S moke S ignals
JUNE 1, 2017
7
'This memorial ... represents freedom'
MEMORIAL DAY continued
from front page
W. Stromberg Jr.
The four granite pillars represent
the major branches of the U.S.
armed forces.
The Grand Ronde Honor Guard
started the solemn day with its
customary ceremonies at the Trib-
al Cemetery at 8 a.m. followed by
ceremonies in Willamina at 9, Buck
Hollow at 10 and Sheridan at 11.
U.S. flags lined the two roadways
flanking the Tribal Cemetery.
The main event began at noon
with a ceremonial meal served in
the Tribal Community Center. A
lunch of ground elk gravy, mashed
potatoes, green beans and salad
was served by Nutrition Program
Lead Cook Kevin Campbell, Food
Sustainability Administrative As-
sistant Patricia LaClaire, Tribal
Council Administrative Assistant
Shannon Simi, youth Madison
Parker and Royalty members Iyana
Holmes and Kaleigha Simi.
Approximately 100 people attend-
ed the lunch, which included mem-
bers of McMinnville’s
American Legion
Post 21 Riders hand-
ing out Vietnam War
veteran lapel pins to
anyone who served
from Nov. 1, 1955,
to May 15, 1975, re-
gardless of location.
About 25 pins were
distributed.
The outdoors cer-
emony started at 1
p.m. with Steve Bobb
Sr., chairman of the
Tribe’s Veterans Spe-
cial Event Board and also a Marine
Corps veteran from the Vietnam
War era, giving the invocation and
serving as master of ceremonies.
Bobb mentioned the fatal stab-
bing that occurred in Portland
over the Memorial Day weekend
in which two men were killed while
defending two women from racial
and religious taunts. Bobb called
the two men heroes for defending
what America is supposed to be
about: freedom of religion and being
free from persecution based on your
race or beliefs.
Grand Ronde drummers led by
Cultural Resources employees
Brian Krehbiel and Bobby Merci-
er played a memorial song as the
Grand Ronde Honor Guard brought
in the colors with Alton Butler
carrying the eagle staff, Raymond
Petite the U.S. flag, Richard Va-
nAtta the Grand Ronde Tribal flag,
Kleffner the POW/MIA flag and Al
Miller the Oregon flag.
Tribal youth JC Rogers sang
the national anthem as she did in
2016 and Grand Ronde Royalty and
Veterans Royalty – Kaleigha Simi,
Isabelle Grout, Mabel Brisbois,
Jameson Turner, Sophia Grout,
Camas Gibbons, Kailiyah Krehbiel,
Tasina Bluehorse, Hailey Lew-
is-Little, Iyana Holmes, Madison
Aaron and Makenzie Aaron – per-
formed “The Lord’s Prayer” as sung
by Aaron Neville.
Tribal Council members in at-
tendance were Chairman Reyn
Leno, Kathleen George and Brenda
Tuomi.
“I am so proud to be chairman of
a Tribe that pays so much respect
to our veterans,” said Leno, who is
a Vietnam War-era Marine Corps
veteran. “Steve and I are proud
Marine Corps veterans. We only
served a few miles away when we
served our time in Vietnam. … To
me, this memorial, and any me-
morial whether it is small, big or
whatever, it all represents freedom.
And freedom is not necessarily
easy to obtain. When we served in
Vietnam, it was a very difficult time
not only there, but when we came
home. We fought for our country.
We defend that flag and we knew
that when we signed the bottom
of the paper when we enlisted, we
said we would give our lives for this
country. A lot of people really don’t
realize it. But if you are a veteran
and you have ever seen somebody
pay that ultimate price, you will
never forget it.”
“I thank you for recognizing the
sacrifices made by all of our veter-
ans,” George said. “We could not
be more proud of them and proud
of the heritage of Tribal people to
always raise up their warriors and
Services’ Veterans
Resource Navigator
Niki Volz, who was
raised in a Marine
Corps family and at-
tended officer candi-
date school for the
Marine Corps.
McCandless told an
emotional story about
losing her “battle
buddy,” who stepped
on a land mine’s pres-
sure plate while on a
recognizance mission
in Iraq.
“I cannot explain
the emotions that
crossed over me as
I was told to load
up the vehicle,” she
said. “I was told to
get into one. Looking
my best friend face
to face, another sol-
dier actually had to
pick me up and throw
me in a vehicle as we
left. That day, David
gave his life for his
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
country and for me. I
may have been lucky
Marie McCandless, a Polk County
enough to come home
Veterans Service Officer, speaks during
with all of my limbs,
the Tribe’s 15th annual Memorial Day
but I still have scars,
Ceremony held at the West Valley
both physical and
Veterans Memorial on Monday, May 29.
emotional.”
Grand Ronde Honor Guard members,
Volz recounted
from left, Tribal Elders Alton Butler and
the story of a high
Raymond Petite and Richard VanAtta
school friend whose
carry in the eagle staff and flags to start
husband lost his life
while serving in the
the Tribe’s 15th annual Memorial Day
Marine Corps in Af-
Ceremony.
ghanistan.
“Their burden is also our burden,
remember to give them
so let us help carry the weight
thanks because truly all of
because that is what family does,”
the sacrifices they have made have
Volz said. “We support one another
enabled us to live with the blessings
and we always have each other’s
that we live with today. I just want
back. It is our duty to always, al-
to offer my heartfelt thank you to
ways remember those who gave
all who have served and the fami-
their lives to protect and maintain
lies who had sacrifices as well when
our ways of freedom and our ways
their people go off to serve.”
of life.”
Tuomi, who is an Army veteran,
Before Leno read the 10 names,
said Memorial Day is personal for
Bobb read a letter from U.S. Rep.
her because she remembered being
Kurt Schrader, who was unable to
stationed at Fort Sill, Okla., during
attend the ceremony because of his
the outbreak of the Gulf War in
schedule in Washington, D.C.
1991. Her husband, Ron, was in the
The one-hour ceremony closed
war zone when news of two U.S. pi-
with
Bud Abbott of the Willamina
lots being shot down and captured
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post
was reported.
4211 reciting the poems “Remem-
“To this day, I remember the
ber Me, America” and “Freedom Is
absolute terror that went through
Not Free,” and Robert Thornburg
my body,” Tuomi said. “A few weeks
performed taps on the trumpet as
earlier, my husband had left for
the colors were retired.
the Gulf War. For the first time, I
The West Valley Veterans Memo-
realized that there was no guaran-
rial, which was dedicated in 2003,
tee that he was coming home. …
was designed by Bobb and features
Thankfully, the two pilots and my
a man and a woman dressed in tra-
husband returned from the Gulf
ditional Native clothing standing
War. Unfortunately, far too many
side by side reaching to the sky.
service men and women do not
Surrounding them are four black
return from war. I would like to
granite pillars, which feature the
recognize and honor those who did
names of Tribal and community
not return, and also give a special
veterans from Grand Ronde, Wil-
recognition to their families, as
lamina and Sheridan.
their lives were changed forever.
The Memorial Day ceremony
I want to say how thankful and
was
recorded by the Tribe’s In-
grateful I am to all service members
formation
Systems employees
and to their families.”
Wendell Olson and Braden Eben-
Speakers included Polk County
steiner and can be viewed in its
Veterans Service Officer Marie
entirety at www.grandronde.org
McCandless, who served in the
by clicking on the News tab and
U.S. Army in Afghanistan, and
then Video.
NorthWest Senior and Disability