Memorial Day used to be known as “Decoration Day”. Blacks in the South would use this day to honor Civil War veterans of the North and South, cleaning the cemeteries, dress up and decorate the graves. They had feasts, sang songs, spoke of the departed. It caught on in villages and small towns all across this country. Veterans and their families would gather at the cemeteries to honor the dead. Veterans graves were marked with a star. Congress in their ignorance would change this Day.
1967. “Decoration Day '' would be no more. It became Memorial Day.
June 1968. Congress passed the “Uniform Holidays Bill”.
In 1971 it became a Federal Holiday. Politicians showed up to Blah Blah! This would be the beginning of their campaign season to be re-elected- politicians, preachers and pimps are all the same! Congress wished to create the three-day weekend holidays. It would include Washington's Birthday, Veterans Day and the new Memorial Day.
Veterans opposed this, wanting to keep the traditional dates. Most of this country's population have never served in the Armed Forces, or know what is sacred to its veterans! Now it's a long weekend, let's go! It's Party Time! I got nothin against that, I can party with the best.
Teach your kids. Most have never heard of the wars this country has fought, unless it's on the video games they play for hours. Why do we have this holiday? It's not taught in school anymore. This is what Memorial Day and that holiday flag flying over the Perkins means to me...
My “blood” ancestors are Anishinaabe, Ojibwe Indians of the Pillager Band**. I am Makwa [Bear Clan]. The Bear Clan were the first line of defense. They lived on the outer ring of the village. If attacked by an enemy, the enemy would have to fight through these guardians, who were known for their fierceness! Anishinaabe were originally from what is now Canada. They migrated south into what is now Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana. The pillagers were the advance guard on the invasion of Dakota country. Driving the Dakota from the woodlands, Ojibwe warred with the Dakota, or as they called them “Sioux” (a Snake).
On my family tree there are a few nameless ancestors known only as ”Killed by Sioux”. The Civil War, Gettysburg!A platoon of young Ojibwe fought on Cemetery Ridge, July 2nd. The 1st MN would lose 84% of the regiment. The 47 survivors stayed and went into battle the next day! The regiment’s fight on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg would result in casualties greater than any combat unit during the Civil War.*
At Gettysburg the 1st MN captured Virginia’s 28th regiments battleflag. In 2009, Virginia again lost, when they sued Minnesota for the Battle Flags return! It is locked in our history museum.
WWI. My Grandfather fought and was wounded in France by the “Hun”. Uncle Eugene Earley was killed there. The American Legion, Post 121 in Watertown, MN is named in his honor. His cousin was also killed
there...WWII. My uncles on both sides of the family fought in Europe and the Pacific.
Korea, the “Forgotten War”1950-53. Uncles, some of whom fought in WWII, were called back to fight another war.
Vietnam was my war. It was a very unpopular war. The U.S. populace was either against us being there, or kept their mouths shut- the ones dubbed “The Silent Majority”. They voted and paid the taxes while their kids protested us being in Vietnam. I would blame this bunch if I was into blaming, but I ain’t. Thirteen of my friends were killed there.
Like most Vietnam vets, if I had ammo, water and food not much else mattered. There was no way that I could or would make a decision on the question, should the U.S. be in Vietnam? Most of the kids my age were in college at the time. I hadn't made it through high school. Another big difference.
While getting shot at, I didn’t have a whole lot of time to wonder if… should we be in Vietnam?? I wondered what the Hell am I doing here? We were told we were there to stop Communism! My ancestors were the original Communists! They were studied by both Engels and Franklin. Neither of these educated fellow’s got it right. All that mattered was how I was gonna keep my young butt alive.
I made it through two tours. When I came home it didn’t take long for me to realize I didn’t fit in anywhere. Not that I really cared, that was what it was, I didn’t care. It would be years before the VA put a name to it. I’m still indifferent to most people, other than my family and fellow Marine Veterans.
I rode motorcycles, built fast cars. Liked my beer and a little smoke. I got into crank, bad women and old trucks. I met some Vets and worked on the Minnesota Vietnam Veterans Bonus, but that was about it. Something was missing. I started thinking about friends who hadn’t come home. It seemed no one except their family cared what had happened to them. This country seemed to be self-centered. I was having a hard time. My values seemed to be obsolete. Was it all for nothing?
June 1976. I was invited to Lame Deer Montana, the home of the Northern Cheyenne. Their ancestors had defeated Custer and his 7th Cavalry in June of 1876. It was the 100 year anniversary and the Bi-Centennial of the U.S. The Dakota, Cheyenne and Crow- along with the 7th Cavalry- held a ceremony at “Greasy Grass” (Little Big Horn). After the usual preacher and politician Blah-Blah, we got an invitation to Two Moons' ranch. Two Moons' grandfather was a chief who fought at “Greasy Grass”. Two Moons- the grandson (he called himself a ”Peace Chief”)- he had fought in WWII.
Ceremonies were held along with a Victory Dance. Custer's Defeat had never been honored! I heard older Veterans of WWII and Korea speak of the proud tradition of the Tribes that lived on this continent. Told by Warriors who had fought in every war this country has fought in, why they fought. Indians have fought in greater numbers than any other race. Fighting for what they always fought for: freedom, their families, homes and country!
These proud old warriors' mantra was: We fought for this Country to be free! We fought for our families and tribe. They fought for us so we could walk this Earth! Their belief had always been that freedom is worth fighting and dying for. Death in War is not a sacrifice, it is an honor! To have fought and lived through battle, I became a Warrior, with the knowledge that will only be gained having been in combat.
A Warrior, ”Ogichidaa” (one who is revered for placing his life in danger) wear and dance with the Sacred Feathers of the ”Migizi” (Eagle). I received Eagle Feathers in a ceremony, given to me by a WWII Ogichidaa. An honor to wear Eagle Feathers, to offer Asema (Tobacco), the Red Stone Pipe I own, smoking it for “Ogichidaa and family with a special prayer I have been given.
At Lame Deer, I would meet my first Vietnam Veteran Indian Honor Guard. They were all Airborne Veterans of the 101st 173rd and 82nd in dress uniform and jump boots!! They were squared away!!! Honor Guards are there to perform the ceremonies when a Warrior is laid to rest. The ceremony lasts three days, his casket is covered by an American Flag. Before being lowered into the Earth, two of the honor guard remove the flag from his coffin, fold it in half twice, then it is folded in the shape of a triangle, with 13 stars showing when folded, the end tucked in. It is then presented to the Veteran's mother or widow. Along with the 21-gun Salute and a few Blah-Blahs from some preacher or spiritual leader, that's the ceremony. A 21-gun salute is given by a seven-member firing squad who fire three rounds (21 is derived from adding the digits comprising 1776 = 21....
Veterans honor the deceased Warrior by flying his “Burial Flag” from sun up to sun down on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The Marines fly this flag, the flag that whiskey-drinkin Indian, Ira Hays, helped raise on Mnt. Suribachi Iwo Jima! There is a huge monument in Arlington, Virginia, a memorial to all Marines, Veterans!Marines love this flag! Have a good Memorial Day! Semper Fi !!!...Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe have been honoring all Veterans for years! The Tribe puts on a Veterans Pow-Wow every summer, with campsites on a lake, firewood cut, meals served daily. They bestow on all Veterans such gifts as Manoomin (wild rice), t-shirts, caps, travel bags... After the Grand Entry and the honor songs sung, the war stories will be told. A favorite gathering place is that of the JIM NORTHRUP FAMILY- free coffee, hootch. For the dates use this e-mail address, jimnorthrupfdl.gmail.com. Tell him Boozhoo from Ray!!!...
* a Confederate unit from Texas had a few more Casualties.
**Pillager Band of Chippewa Indians (or simply the Pillagers; Makandwewininiwag in the Ojibwe language) are a historical band of Chippewa (Ojibwe), originally living at the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Their name
“Pillagers” is a translation of Makandwewininiwag, which literally means “Pillaging Men”. This name was given to them because they formed the advance guard of the Ojibwe in the invasion of the Dakota country, establishingthemselves first on Leech Lake and gradually pushing westward from that point....
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