The Veterans D.O.R.A. Powwow will return to Volk Field on Saturday, November 8, in honor of Native and non-Native veterans whose service has left a lasting legacy for their families and communities.

     The event, sponsored by Descendants of Red Arrow (D.O.R.A.) and Friends, pays tribute to the 128th Infantry Company D of the 32nd “Red Arrow Division” and the many Ho-Chunk and Wisconsin veterans who served in World War I and beyond.

     “It started in 1978 with my grandfather and others,” Michael Day, one of the powwow organizers said.

     “They wanted a way to thank and honor veterans, especially our Ho-Chunk relatives. Many weren’t even U.S. citizens at the time, yet they still served. That’s a mark of who we are as a people.”

     The powwow traces back to the sacrifices made by 25 Ho-Chunk men who joined the Red Arrow Division during World War I. Their names, histories, and flags remain at the center of the event each year.

     Day said organizers are preparing to raise 25 flags, one for each of those men, during a special ceremony. Among them is his grandfather’s flag, carried forward by the family. Direct descendants of the World War I veterans are encouraged to attend for the issuance of their relatives flag.

     The program begins at 11 a.m. with a flag raising led by Andrew Blackhawk American Legion Post 129, followed by a lunch meal. A keynote speaker and grand entry are scheduled for 1 p.m., with the Thundercloud Singers serving as host drum.

     For the Day family, keeping the powwow going has been a generational effort. After several years off due to COVID-19, relatives helped bring it back in 2024.

     “This isn’t funded by grants or outside groups,” Day said. “It started with family, and it’s always been about family. That’s sovereignty too, deciding for ourselves how we honor our people.”

     The day will include veterans’ songs, dancing, traditional giveaways, and a silent auction to support future powwows. Special recognition is planned for the eldest Native veteran in attendance.

     Day said the powwow creates space for all veterans to feel honored. One particular memory stood out to him.

     “A Vietnam veteran came up to me and said he hadn’t been to a veterans’ event since coming home, because he was spit on and called names,” Day said. “But he said this powwow made him proud to be a veteran again. It made him cry. That’s why we do this.”

     The powwow will take place at the National Guard Armory at Volk Field, a new building on the left as attendees enter the base.

     “It’s the headquarters of the Red Arrow Division, and it feels right to honor them there,” Day said.

     As Ho-Chunk youth take on greater roles in cultural revitalization, from language teaching to event organizing, Day said he hopes the powwow continues long into the future.

     “We’re bringing the past into the present to build the future,” Day said. “If we don’t continue honoring these men and all veterans, we lose part of ourselves. But when we gather in this way, we keep our culture, our respect, and our care for family alive.”

     The Veterans D.O.R.A. Powwow is free and open to the public. Organizers invite families, veterans, and community members from all backgrounds to join in a day of remembrance, song, and celebration.