Smoke signals., July 15, 2012, Page 7, Image 7

Smoke Signals 7
JULY 15,2012
Volcanoes host first might to honor veterans
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
SALEM July 5 was the first
night of appreciation for Native
American veterans held by the
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, a Class A
affiliate of last year's World Series
winning San Francisco Giants, but
festivities running through July
4-6 represented the team's fifth an
nual Patriotic Tribute at Volcanoes
Stadium.
"I think veterans are one of our
most important groups in America,"
said Jerry Howard, senior marketing
executive for the team and director
of Game Day Operations. "Because
of them, we have free choices they
don't have in other countries. There
are two defining forces willing to die
for you. Jesus Christ and the U.S.
soldier. One died for your soul and
the other for your freedom."
Howard is an Air Force veteran,
having served from 1961-66, and a
lifelong baseball professional with
59 years in the sport.
The jam-packed schedule on
Thursday, July 5, started with
a caisson sitting just outside the
gates of the stadium, carrying a
flag-draped coffin representing Na
tive American veterans who have
walked on. The Grand Ronde Honor
Guard, Royalty and Drum, and the
Oregon State Defense Force Bag
pipe Band playing "Amazing Grace,"
introduced the night's ceremonies.
The Honor Guard, which included
Tribal Elders Gene LaBonte, Reyn
Leno and Alton Butler, and Bob
Duncan, removed the coffin from the
caisson, carried it to a tepee set up
on the concourse inside the gates and
placed the coffin inside the tepee.
Later, but still before game time,
Tribal Elder Jolanda Catabay sang
"America the Beautiful" and for the
seventh inning stretch, she sang
"God Bless America." Becky Yuso
sang the national anthem. Ayden
Bobb, 11, ran the bases "for every
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Photos by Ron Karten
The Grand Ronde Honor Guard, which included, from left, Bob Duncan and Tribal
Elders Reyn Leno, Gene LaBonte and Alton Butler, carry the coffin to a tepee set up
on the concourse inside the gates, where they placed it inside the tepee.
kid who cannot run them," Howard
told him before the run.
Tribal Vice Chair Reyn Leno, Tribal
Council members Steve Bobb Sr. and
June Sherer and Tribal Elder Alton
Butler, all Vietnam-era veterans,
threw out ceremonial first pitches.
A group that included Native
and other Oregon veterans toasted
those who have walked on, repre
sented by two table settings with
nobody seated.
Lori Piestewa, a Hopi Indian
who was the first woman killed in
Iraq and the first Native American
woman killed in any war, and Ira
Hayes, a Pima Indian and one of
the six men immortalized in the
iconic photograph of the flag-raising
on Iwo Jima during World War
II, also were honored.
Inning by inning other veterans
were honored throughout this
year's three-day celebration of the
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nation's veterans.
"It's a wonderful event," said
Bobb. "It doesn't happen too often
that they take the opportunity to
honor Native American veterans."
"Anytime we honor our vets, es
pecially our Native American vets,
I think that's a real appreciation
of the people of the Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde, and all Na
tive Americans," Leno said.
Perhaps the honor of the evening
went to the family of Marcellus
Norwest, a U.S. Army veteran
who walked on in 2011. His family,
headed by his wife, Sharon, were
brought to home plate, thanked and
given plaques for his service.
"It's kind of a mixed feeling,"
Sharon said before leading the
family to home plate. "I'm happy
they're honoring him, but it's kind
of hard because I still haven't come
to terms with losing him."
"It's an honor," said Regina
Wheeler, whose husband, Duane, is
Marce's brother, "that they're honor
ing Marce just before powwow."
"It was so nice they honored my
brother," said Tribal Elder Marcella
Norwest Selwyn. "I still think about
him every day."
Tribal families and Elders came
out in force for the evening, only to
see the hometown Volcanoes lose
after the ceremonies 10-2 against
a surging Vancouver Canadians
team.
Fireworks ended the evening. D
Tribal Elder
Jolanda Catabay
sings "America
the Beautiful"
for the crowd
during the pre
game events
dedicated to
Native American
veterans at
Volcanoes
Stadium in
Salem on
Thursday, July 5.
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Jerry Howard, senior marketing executive for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and director of Game Day Operations, presents a plaque honoring Tribal Elder
Marcellus Norwest, who walked on in 201 1, to Sharon Norwest, his wife. During the ceremony, Norwest family members stood in honor of Marce at home plate.