Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2025)
9 sNok signflz JUNE 1, 2025 Six names added to West Valley Veterans Memorial MEMORIAL DAY continued from front page thorization to care for its veterans locally. Now, he said, it’s important to turn attention to ensuring that veterans have housing and other services available. Six names were added to the six pillars at the West Valley Veterans Memorial, which commemorates the names of Tribal and community warriors from Grand Ronde, Wil- lamina and Sheridan who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Veterans Special Event Board Secretary and Tribal member Molly Leno, who served as master of cere- monies for the event, told the crowd there are now 2,391 names listed. She read aloud the names that were added to the memorial this year: Tribal member Justin Foster (Army), Rick Sardegna (Air Force), and Bruce Co- hen, Arthur Lamarche, John Pitt and Leo Se- idel (Navy) joined the names of those listed. “Today, we gather with solemn hearts and grateful spirits to re- member those who fell,” she said. Memorial Day holds Vickie Rober, a member of the Willamina Veterans great significance in of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 4211, hands out the hearts of Tribal peo- poppies before the start of the Memorial Day ple, she said, because Ceremony at the West Valley Veterans Memorial on “Native people have the Tribal campus Monday, May 26. The red poppy served at a higher rate is a symbol of remembrance, sacrifi ce and peace, than any other group. particularly in relation to war and those who lost … While history has not always honored Na- their lives in confl ict. tives, we stand as a beacon of resilience.” Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy, Vice Chair Chris Mercier and members Bren- da Tuomi, Lisa Leno and Kathleen George attended. Tribal member Anthony Quenelle drummed and sang a memorial song. For invocation, Quenelle sang “Soldier Boy.” The Royalty Court performed the Lord’s Prayer and the honor guard posted the eagle staff and colors. Before sitting down for the cer- emony in front of the memorial, attendees enjoyed a lunch of lasa- gna, salad, bread and dessert in the Tribal Community Center at noon. Alvin Klausen, Board President of Courtney Place Veterans Hous- ing, said the celebrants gathered “not just as Americans but as mem- bers of a broader warrior tradition.” Memorial Day is “a day to honor the fallen,” Klausen said. “The ones who never came home. The ones who died wearing the uniform of our country, whether in the is- Army Corps seeking comment on Detroit Lake drawdown and hydropower PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public com- ment on two requirements: A deep drawdown for Detroit Lake in fall 2026 and studying a permanent end to hydropower production at Willamette Valley dams. Comments will be accepted until Friday, June 6, and may be submitted by mail, email or in public meetings by fi lling out comment cards. The Tribe has been demanding that the Army Corps follow congressional directives to study removing hydropower from its dams, and court and federal orders to implement more deep drawdowns to enable juvenile spring Chinook and winter steelhead to pass through the dams so they can migrate to the ocean. The measures are considered critical for the survival of both species. To read more about this topic, visit www.smokesignals.org and type “The salmon situation,” into the search bar. Send comments to Willamette.eis@usace.army.mil or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CENWP-PME-E/ Willamette EIS, P.O. Box 2946, Port- land, OR 97208-2946. There will be an in-person meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 3, at Broadway Commons, 1300 Broadway St. NE, Salem. n Photos by Michelle Alaimo Tribal member Anthony Quenelle sings and drums a memorial song during the Memorial Day Ceremony at the West Valley Veterans Memorial on the Tribal campus Monday, May 26. lands of the Pacifi c, the jungles of Vietnam, the deserts of Iraq or the mountains of Afghanistan.” He continued, “But there are oth- ers we must remember, too. Those who came home bearing wounds we couldn’t see. We remember the ones who took their own lives, burdened by the trauma too heavy to bear. Their names might not be etched on stone in Arlington, but their sacri- fi ce is no less real. They died from war, even though the battlefield was within.” Klausen and Courtney Place Executive Director Andrew Hol- bert shared honors as the keynote speakers for the event. Courtney Place, which opened in Salem in April 2024, is a 34-unit low-income housing community for veterans in Salem. It provides both housing and wrap-around care for veterans, in partnership with the Family YMCA of Marion and Polk counties. It provides one-and two-bedroom apartments, along with mental and behavioral health support, training in fi nancial litera- cy and life skills, and outings to the coast, the zoo and other locations. “We’ve partnered with groups like the Tanner Project, which is a veterans’ homeless shelter in Salem and we’ve been working closely with the Grand Ronde, because one-third of our residents are Native, and we understand the importance of cul- tural representation and the honor that Grand Ronde gives to veterans in our community.” Klausen said. He called out Tribal member Trevor Aaron, who also serves on the board of Courtney Place, saying that, “His cultural leadership and passion for our mission have helped guide us and have uplifted those who needed it most.” Holbert said he had met Bobb while working with veterans ad- vocacy groups in Yamhill and Polk counties, and Bobb insisted he attend a powwow. He said he was struck by the care with which Grand Ronde surrounded its veterans. Holbert said the work Courtney Place does in providing services to veterans beyond just housing, and the social outings, are a crucial part of the care. “It is pretty isolating and lonely to move into an apartment complex,” he said. Reyn Leno noted that the agen- cy hopes to build more housing, prompting his hope that the Tribe will join the partnership. n AGES 10-18 YRS S UM MER WAL KING C HA LLEN Sign -ups GE op STRO STRONG R N G LEGS L EGS KICK-OFF KICK-O KICK O OFF JUNE 7TH- J 7T TH- HEALTHY AUG.16TH AUG.16 6TH 2025 5 LUNGS Friday June 6 5pm-6:30pm come to o th the he e en M Clos ay e on June th 16th 5 th community center for a 5:15pm dinner and short orientation and pick up your FITBIT/or bring Fitbit, Bring Youth too. Contact Shannon Lafferty to SIGN UP or if you have any questions ns cell # 971-901-1946 or Email: shannon.stanton@grandronde.org g We support youth to make healthy choices, keep traditional tobacco sacred, and say “NO” to commercial ercial tobacco & VAPING. Share the Native quit line with the people you care about 1-800-Quit-NOW 10-WEEK 10 0-WEEK WA ALKING WALKING CHA ALLENGE CHALLENGE BI-W BI-WEEKLY BI WEEKLY W CHECK-INS CHE ECK-INS F PRIZES FOR THE TOP WINNER AT THE END OF 10 WEEKS WE WILL ANNOUCE THE WINNERS AT THE END O F THE SUMMER BBQ Q OF BASH EVENT. FITBITS FO FOR O R THE YOUTH THAT HAVE NOT RECIEVED ONE FROM OUR PROGRAM. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, CALL L SHANNON Thank you for respecting Grand Ronde Community & Culture l t u r e by b y not di displaying isplaying gang affiliation and by not bringing drugs, alcohol or weapons to this event.
