Tribe slates Memorial Day event on Monday, May 28

Tribal Memorial Day events on Monday, May 28, start with a noon meal prepared under the direction of Tribal member and Food Services Coordinator Kristy DeLoe.

DeLoe will be joined in cooking this year's meal by Tribal cooks Kevin Campbell and Michael Burton. Campbell is also a Tribal member.

Together, the culinary trio will prepare the traditional meal of stew with ceremonial meat, salad, rolls, coffee, punch and dessert.

The meal will be prepared at the Elders' Activity Center kitchen though it will be served at the Community Center opposite the West Valley Veterans' Memorial. Tribal Elders and Grand Ronde Royalty have volunteered to serve the meal.

Following immediately after the meal, Tribal Council Vice Chair Reyn Leno, a Vietnam-era Marine veteran, will be master of ceremony at the memorial.

Nine new names added this year to the black granite pillars will bring the total number to 2,254. With the Army and Navy pillars filling up, the Tribe anticipates adding two new ones to the memorial in the year ahead, said Tribal Elder Dakota Whitecloud, chair of the Tribe's Veterans Special Events Board.

To Marine veteran, Tribal Elder and Tribal Council member Steve Bobb Sr., designer of the memorial, the day marks, "A day of remembrance for freedom.

"As our young people find that inner strength that tells them, 'I want to serve, to stand and protect this nation, to have the honor of wearing a uniform of one of the fighting forces of the United States of America, to join the ranks of the brave men and women who will never run from those who would bring harm and destruction to our nation.'

"Even with the potential of being emotionally and physically scarred for the rest of their lives, of dealing every day of their lives with things they are asked to do, for having to witness mankind at its worst and maybe the giving of your own life and the heartbreak that their families will have to forever endure; even at times feeling very alone, homesick and fearful, there are still those who step forward to take on the challenge and responsibility of protecting a nation.

"All of us who live our lives under the umbrella of freedom need to be reminded that freedom is a fragile thing, so I absolutely believe that we need to recognize their contributions. They are the 'Protectors of Freedom.' "

Veterans and veteran groups from the area have been invited and the Grand Ronde Color Guard will post the colors.

The Tribe's Veterans Special Events Board is hosting the event again this year.

The program is expected to last from 1 to 3 p.m.