Smoke Signals 7
JANUARY 15, 2009
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NORWEST continued
from front page
sister, Tribal Elder Marilee Nor-west-Davis,
said. He knew how to
give help to others and how to ask
for it himself when he was low.
A seemingly endless number
of Tribal and community mem
bers came to the microphone at
the head table and talked about
what Norwest has meant to them,
taught them and shown them by
example.
Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A.
Kennedy said that Norwest taught
her "to speak from the heart."
Tribal Council member Steve
Bobb Sr. said that his cousin
"had spent a lifetime honoring
others."
"He spent a lifetime showing us
all how not to back down," Bobb
said. "He has staying power, never
giving up. He always thinks of oth
ers before himself. Never afraid of
hard work. Or to share his opin
ions." "You brought honor to all vets,"
wrote Tribal Council member June
Sell-Sherer, who had previously
committed to caring for her grand
children. "I hope that those who
follow will learn from your ex
ample." Tribal Council Vice Chair Reyn
Leno sent his regards to Norwest
from a previously scheduled ap
pointment in Redmond.
Although back in the day a lot of
the younger generation said they
were afraid of Norwest (though that
fear turned to respect as they grew
older), Jim Willis, director of the
Oregon Department of Veterans
Affairs, said that the first time he
met him was at a Veterans' Pow
wow where "the children flocked
to him."
"I have known Marce all my life,"
said Joe Kirk, chair of the Klamath
Tribe. "He has given me that lift.
When I was younger, he did not
hesitate to correct some of my be
haviors. Marce and his family have
been tremendously important to me
and my family. I thank Marce for
having been a part of my life."
"I've had nothing but the utmost
feelings for you," said fellow vet
eran and chaplain Bud Abbott, who
led the invocation and benediction
at the beginning and end of the cer
emony, and then the prayer before
the potluck held at the Community
Center. "You are a man of extreme
dignity."
And like many veterans, Ab
bott expressed the pride he felt
from serving with Norwest on the
Veterans Memorial Ad Hoc Com
mittee. Norwest was the driving
force for the West Valley Veterans
Memorial.
Kevin Scott, commander of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars in Wil
lamina, said that he had been to
many veterans' events during his
time, "and always one face that's
smiling back at me wherever I go
is Marce."
Northwest Indian Veterans As
sociation chair and Tribal Elder
Gene Lnllonte thanked Norwest for
handing out $100 bills to families
in need.
Gene's wife, Billie, reminded Nor
west "what a good time we had" with
Diane Cilente, Yamhill County Vet
erans Service Officer (now passed
on), in getting all the names ready
for the Veterans Memorial.
Tribal Council member Chris
Mercier remembered when he
wrote for Smoke Signals and inter
viewed Norwest for a story about
the memorial.
"Until that time, my understand
ing about what it meant to be a vet
eran was pretty much nil," Mercier
said. "The conversation with Marce
was like turning the key to open
my mind."
Tribal Elder CeCe Kneeland said,
"The pride that Marce and Sharon
(Marce's wife) had in the commu
nity that's the warrior spirit."
And she thanked Norwest for his
work on the Veterans' Powwow be
cause it "opened new opportunities
for girls and women to participate.
It gets whole families involved in
teaching and learning by example
to show respect. Marce has shown
by example."
Then she did as well. Kneeland
and her daughter, Nakoosa, Junior
Veterans' Queen 2008-09, who
danced representing Royalty for the
posting and retiring of the colors,
together sang an Indian prayer for
Norwest.
Tribal Council member Wink
Soderberg recalled marveling at
Norwest's garden and asking him
how he did it. "I come out here and
pray to the Creator," he told Soder
berg, and Soderberg said that he has
followed that example ever since.
"Marce has created more than a
family in Grand Ronde. He's cre
ated a dynasty, and who better to
lead a dynasty?" Soderberg said.
Norwest was born in the Klamath
Agency, in a tiny town in southern
Oregon just northwest of Chiloquin,
Weippert told the group. He lived
on a 1,500-acre ranch with his par
ents until moving to Grand Ronde,
where he has spent all his life.
"Marce was drafted into the
United States Army in the early
1950s, not long after completing
high school," Weippert said. "While
in the Army, he served in the Ko
rean War as a machine gunner
with the 532nd Combat Engineers,
firing 50-caliber cannons. He also
served as a heavy equipment op
erator in other locations such as
Ft. Lewis, Washington, Camp San
Luis Obispo and Fort Ord, both in
California. Additionally, he served
in Germany as a military police
man and earned eight medals and
ribbons during his service.
"Returning to Grand Ronde,
Marce worked for the Confeder
ated Tribes of Grand Ronde for a
total of 18 years, part of that as a
Forest Patrol officer for the Natural
Resources Division."
"We really miss him since he re-
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Above, Mark Weippert, post
commander for the AMVETS Post
2000 in Willamina, shows the
audience a plaque that Is being
presented to Tribal Elder Marc
Norwest for his outstanding
dedication, support and service
to all veterans, the Tribe and the
community, during a tribute to him
on Saturday, Jan. 1 0 in the Tribal
gymnasium. At left. Tribal Elder Marco
Norwest speaks. In the background,
from left. Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle
A. Kennedy and Tribal Council
members Wink Soderberg and Steve
Bobb Sr. listen.
tired," said Betty Lambert, who just
last week also retired as reception
ist for the division.
"In his veteran service, it would
be difficult to find a veteran who
has made more contributions and
has given more of himself to the
welfare of veterans and the Tribal
community than Marce," Weippert
said.
Norwest was one of the founding
members of the Grand Ronde chap
ter of NIVA, and, more recently,
Norwest became a member of the
newly formed West Valley Veterans
I lonor Guard in the capacity of pre
senting the burial flag to the fami
lies of the fallen, Weippert said.
The Grand Ronde Honor Guard,
Drum, Royalty and Canoe Family
all performed to honor Norwest.
Tribal member Dictz Peters danced
to honor him.
Norwest thanked them all, but
said, "I never did it by myself. I had
Sharon, the Tribe, the vet's groups.
I take nothing for myself."
The veterans remembered Sha
ron's contributions, too, present
ing her with a Pendleton blanket,
purchased by Tribal Council, for
her years of support.
"I still have things to do," Norwest
told the group, and added, "From the
bottom of my heart, this is a day that
1 will remember forever." B