Eleven names added to West Valley Veterans Memorial

Memorial Day saw 11 new names added to the West Valley Veterans’ Memorial in Grand Ronde on Monday, May 30.

The ceremony under sunny skies marked the memorial’s 14^th anniversary.

The traditional first rifle salute was heard throughout Grand Ronde at 8:16 a.m. as the Grand Ronde Honor Guard honored veterans buried at the Tribal Cemetery.

Grand Ronde Veterans Special Event Board Chairman Steve Bobb Sr. said the Honor Guard then traveled to Willamina Cemetery, Buck Hollow Cemetery and finished the morning at the Sheridan Cemetery.

Bobb, who was master of ceremonies at the Grand Ronde ceremony, welcomed everyone to the memorial 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, Travis Stewart and Nakoa Mercier performed a welcome song on hand drums and were backed up by singers Cheyenne Simmons, Lisa Leno, Shannon Simi and Clark.

An estimated crowd of 200 people 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, Marine Corps veteran Rich Van Atta carried the American flag, Tribal Elder and Army veteran Raymond Petite carried the Tribal flag, Navy veteran Dennis Keffner carried the POW-MIA flag and Navy veteran Al Miller carried the Oregon flag.

“Please join us as we add these 11 names to the memorial and as we honor those that have served this great nation,” said Bobb.

Tribal Council member Brenda Tuomi, an Army veteran, was the first council member to address the crowd.

“I love that we have Armed Forces Day to honor those who are serving and Veterans Day to honor those that have served,” said Tuomi. “It’s important to take time to reflect what Memorial Day is all about. Today we are here to honor the heroes that have given their lives and to say thank you for their sacrifices.”

Tribal Council member Chris Mercier said he has learned about veterans from Bobb and others he has served with on council. He cited Jan Reibach Sr., Wink Soderberg, June Sherer and current Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno among them.

“I knew very little about veterans and what veterans have experienced until I actually 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 really opened my eyes.”

Tribal Council member Denise Harvey emotionally remembered her brother Tom and what it was like in her family when he was drafted.

“I remember the day that he got drafted and I remember the emotion in my family’s home,” said Harvey. “I just want to say thank you to all the men and women that have served. Those who did not come home and a special thank you to my brother Tom.”

Bobb then introduced Tribal Council Vice Chairman Jack Giffen Jr.

“Good afternoon everybody and thank you for coming for this special occasion to honor all veterans,” said Giffen. “I want to thank all veterans for their service to this great country. I want to take a moment to really thank all the family members of those veterans that have almost the same sacrifice – the mothers and fathers of the kids that went over there and gave us the freedoms that we enjoy today. We honor all our veterans today.”

Leno, a Vietnam War-era veteran, said that the Veterans’ Memorial came from an idea of the late Marcellus Norwest.

“He (Norwest) came to me,” said Leno. “It took us four or five years to raise the money; we wanted it to really mean something so we did a lot of fundraising to build this beautiful 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 82^nd Airborne Division 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 throughout the Pacific 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 recitation 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 memorial since its creation to 2,325 representing all four branches of the military.