Ho-Chunk Nation remembers fallen warriors at flag raising

By Marlon WhiteEagle



As summer and Memorial Day fast approach, the Ho-Chunk Nation remembers fallen warriors at flag raising event held on May 23, 2016 at the Tribal Office Building in Black River Falls, Wisconsin.
Each Monday at the Tribal Office Building, employees gather at the front entrance to witness the flag raising ceremony while singers sing the Ho-Chunk flag song and veterans hoist flags for the work week.  On Fridays, the flags are lowered and stored for the weekend.
The Monday before Memorial Day the Division of Veterans Affairs of the Heritage Preservation Department and the Office of the President organized an event to recognize the Ho-Chunk Nation members who were killed or missing in action.
The event was called, In Honor of Our Fallen Warriors: Killed in Action & Missing in Action.
Like every Monday, employees gathered at the front entrance. But this week members of the Andrew Blackhawk American Legion Post 129, family members of those military personnel who died or went missing during their service to America, the Traditional Chief Clayton Winneshiek, and Jackson County Service Officer Randy Bjerke joined in the observance.
The Ho-Chunk Nation, US, and State of Wisconsin flags were raised and lowered to half-mast to pay respect the fallen warriors from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf.
Traditional Chief Clayton Winneshiek greeted those in attendance and gave a prayer of the morning ceremony.
The Andrew Blackhawk American Legion Post 129 rendered a 21 gun salute and Bjerke played taps as part of the ceremony.
Next, Ho-Chunk Nation President Wilfrid Cleveland gave remarks about the ceremony.  During his address, President Cleveland read the names of 25 Ho-Chunk veterans who served in the military and gave the ultimate sacrifice to the US and the Ho-Chunk Nation.
Those who served during World War I were Foster Decorah, Robert Decorah, Nelson B. Delaronde, James Greengrass, Dewey Mike, Mike Standing Water, and Jesse Thompson.
Those who served in World War II were Alpheus Decorah, Levi Decorah, George Green, Matthew Johnson, Adam Littlebear Jr. Abraham Littlebeaver, Howard Littlejohn, Thomas Soldier, Samuel Thundercloud, Herman White, and Joe White.
George Green and Adam Littlebear Jr. were also Ho-Chunk Code Talkers.
Those who served during Korea were Mitchell Redcloud Jr., Arthur Irwin Blackhawk, John Rice, and John Saloman.
Those who served in Vietnam were Elliot L. DeCora and Anthony J. LaMere
Serving in the Persian Gulf was Scott A. Sharpback.
The four Service Songs were sung, and Post 129 danced around the drum.
Everyone was invited to cake and refreshments after the ceremony.
The flags were raised to full mast at noon, concluding the observance.


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