S moke S ignals
JUNE 1, 2016
19
'All gave some and some gave all'
MEMORIAL DAY continued
from front page
and finished the morning at the
Sheridan Cemetery.
Bobb, who was master of ceremo-
nies at the Grand Ronde ceremony,
welcomed everyone to the memori-
al event at 1 p.m. following a meal
served in the Tribal Community
Center that started at noon.
The standing-room–only meal
was prepared by cooks Kevin
Campbell and Charles Nuejahr,
and Tribal Council Administrative
Assistant Shannon Simi and Public
Affairs Administrative Assistant
Chelsea Clark helped serve the
meal. Tribal Royalty delivered
meals to Elders at their tables.
Royalty this year are Amaryssa
Mooney, Iyana Holmes, Isabelle
Grout, Sophie Grout and Kaleigha
Simi. They were helped by former
Veterans Queen Savannah Ingram.
Campbell and Nuejahr estimated
they served at least 150 people.
Bobb gave the welcome and Navy
veteran and Tribal Elder Jerry
George gave the invocation for the
meal.
“All gave some and some gave
all,” said George.
Jordan Mercier and Nakoa Mer-
cier performed a welcome song on
hand drums and were backed up
by singers Cheyenne Simmons and
Clark.
An estimated crowd of 200 peo-
ple watched as Tribal youth JC
Rogers sang the national anthem
and Grand Ronde Royalty and
Veterans Royalty performed “The
Lord’s Prayer.”
The Grand Ronde Color Guard
posted the flags and Bobb gave
an invocation. He then introduced
members of Tribal Council who
were present for the Memorial Day
celebration.
Marine Corps veteran Alton
Butler carried the Eagle staff, Ma-
rine Corps veteran Rich Van Atta
carried the American lag, Tribal
Elder and Army veteran Raymond
Petite carried the Tribal lag, Navy
veteran Dennis Keffner carried the
POW-MIA lag and Navy veteran
Al Miller carried the Oregon lag.
“Please join us as we add these 11
among them.
“I knew very little
about veterans and
what veterans have
experienced until I ac-
tually started working
here at the Tribe,” said
Mercier. “I’ve worked
every day with veterans
and I will always give
credit to Steve Bobb for
teaching me more about
veterans and what it
was like to serve during
war time than anyone
has taught me. He real-
ly opened my eyes.”
Tribal Council mem-
ber Denise Harvey emo-
tionally remembered
her brother Tom and
what it was like in her
family when he was
drafted.
“I remember the day
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
that he got drafted and
Tribal Council Chairman and Marine Corps
I remember the emotion
veteran Reyn Leno addresses the crowd during
in my family’s home,”
the 14th annual Memorial Day Ceremony held at
said Harvey. “I just
the West Valley Veterans Memorial on the Tribal
want to say thank you to
campus on Monday, May 30.
all the men and women
that have served. Those
who did not come home and a spe-
cial thank you to my brother Tom.”
Bobb then introduced Tribal Coun-
cil Vice Chairman Jack Giffen Jr.
“Good afternoon everybody and
thank you for coming for this spe-
names to the memorial and as we
cial occasion to honor all veterans,”
honor those that have served this
said Giffen. “I want to thank all vet-
great nation,” said Bobb.
erans for their service to this great
Tribal Council member Brenda Tu-
country. I want to take a moment to
omi, an Army veteran, was the irst
really thank all the family members
council member to address the crowd.
of those veterans that have almost
“I love that we have Armed Forces
the same sacriice – the mothers
Day to honor those who are serving
and fathers of the kids that went
and Veterans Day to honor those
over there and gave us the freedoms
that have served,” said Tuomi. “It’s
that we enjoy today. We honor all
important to take time to reflect
our veterans today.”
what Memorial Day is all about. To-
Leno, a Vietnam War-era veter-
day we are here to honor the heroes
an, said that the Veterans’ Memo-
that have given their lives and to
rial came from an idea of the late
say thank you for their sacriices.”
Marcellus Norwest.
Tribal Council member Chris
“He (Norwest) came to me,” said
Mercier said he has learned about
Leno. “It took us four or ive years
veterans from Bobb and others he
to raise the money; we wanted it to
has served with on council. He cited
really mean something so we did a
Jan Reibach Sr., Wink Soderberg,
June Sherer and current Tribal
Council Chairman Reyn Leno
From row from left, Little Miss Grand Ronde Kaleigha Simi and Junior Miss
Grand Ronde Isabelle Grout; Sophie Grout, second row, third row from left,
Veterans Special Event Board Princess Iyana Holmes and Veterans Special
Event Board Junior Queen Amaryssa Mooney; and back row, Savannah
Ingram, former Veterans Special Event Board Queen and current Miss
Naimuma at Portland State, perform ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ during the 14th
annual Memorial Day Ceremony held at the West Valley Veterans Memorial
on the Tribal campus on Monday, May 30.
lot of fundraising to build this beau-
tiful monument. I believe it’s one of
the best around. This monument
means a lot to me. All these people
up here mean a lot to me. I want to
thank each and every one of you. I
want to thank your families and
thank you for coming.”
This year’s keynote speaker was
Purple Heart recipient Sgt. Joel
Dulashanti.
Dulashanti, 28, was an Army
sniper with the 82nd Airborne Di-
vision who served in Afghanistan.
He lost his right leg after being was
shot four times at close range in an
ambush.
Dulashanti received a Purple
Heart from President George W.
Bush in 2008 at the age of 22. A
Purple Heart is awarded to soldiers
wounded as a direct result of enemy
action as well as those who died of
their injuries.
Dulashanti now travels through-
out the Paciic Northwest speaking
on behalf of the Military Order of
the Purple Heart.
Oregon Department of Veterans
Affairs’ Deputy Director Ed Van
Dyke then spoke about the origins
of Memorial Day and its importance
to the country.
Leno then read the names that were
added to the memorial this year.
Irving G. Williamson, Leslie L.
Larson, Donald C. Hayes, Marshall
F. Duncan and Larry R. Baker were
added to the pillar representing
the Army.
Barry Ford and Glen A. Larson
were added to the Air Force pillar
and Albert D. Miller, Larry M.
Godsey, William M. Drake and
Clyde D. Van Atta were added to
the Navy pillar.
Miller and Godsey were present
to hear their names read.
Bud Abbott gave the annual rec-
itation of the poem “Remember Me
America” and Robert Thornburg
played taps on his trumpet.
The 11 names added brings the
total of names etched into me-
morial since its creation to 2,325
representing all four branches of
the military.
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