VETERANS DAY: HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED
By Harrison J. Bahe
In the early morning hours on November 11th, 2024, over 50 tribal and community members gathered at the Fort McDowell Cemetery to honor and commemorate soldiers past and present for their gallant military service to the United States of America.
The event began with a brief history overview by Tom Jones who shared the long and storied past of the Yavapai people. Shortly afterward, the flag raising ceremony began. The older weather worn flag was taken down and a new flag, with its vibrant stars and stripes, was raised. The tribal flag was also raised alongside it.
President Sandra Pattea then spoke about the importance of Veterans Day and asked those in attendance to announce anyone they knew who personally served in the military. Multiple people proudly shouted the names of their loved ones and the branches they served which was followed by thunderous applause. Then, each individual name was read from the memorial wall at the cemetery. It should be noted that many names that were on the wall were Yavapai scouts who served with the cavalry. Many of those named would go on to shape what Fort McDowell is today.
The event concluded with Tom Jones gifting a historical photo of prominent members of the Fort McDowell Tribe to Roddy Pilcher and Tina Stytz who gracefully accepted the lovely gift. Afterward, they distributed mini flags and were encouraged to place them on the graves of their loved ones within the cemetery. Tribal and community members wandered to and fro through the various pathways to find their loved ones graves. It was such a sight to witness as small groups of people gathered around the final resting place of their loved ones, standing in silence and honoring the memories of those who served.
Originally, Veterans Day was known as Armistice Day to commemorate the day World War I ended: November 11th, 1918. Then, in 1954, the word “armistice” was struck from the title and “veterans” was added. Veterans Day is a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation proudly recognizes and honors its veterans.
