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Native American vets unveil special monument

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Wednesday, 17 November 2010

Native American vets unveil special monument By VICTORIA GUAY This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it Sunday, November 14, 2010 BOSCAWEN — More than 100 Native Americans, veterans and others gathered Saturday at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery to unveil a monument many say is long overdue. The monument, developed and paid for through the efforts of the New Hampshire Intertribal Native American Council, an organization that meets once a month in Laconia, is in the shape of a drum surrounding by an arch. Inscribed in glossy black stone are the words "Dedicated to all Native American Veterans/ American and Canadian / Who served to protect/ This land called/ Turtle Island. " Peter Newell of Belmont, chief of the Intertribal Council and a Vietnam veteran, was the master of ceremonies. "The Native American people respect their country, respect the land and respect the flag," Newell said in opening the ceremony. Newell stressed the importance of the monument honoring Canadian Native American Veterans, as they often fought alongside American veterans. Alton resident Paul Pouliot, of the Pennacook-Abenaki people, who worked with others to have the Legislature create a state commission for Native American Affairs, said he hadn't planned to speak at the event, he just wanted to observe and honor all veterans. However, when Newell asked him to speak, he thanked everyone for making the monument a reality. He reminded everyone how important military service and honoring veterans is to Native Americans. Native American veterans in the present and past "served not for political reasons but to protect the land and family they left behind," Pouliot said. "They all served diligently to protect their home." Bob Jones of Meredith, president of the Northeast POW/MIA Network and the founder of a weekly POW/MIA vigil in Meredith, said he was pleased and honored to be invited to speak at the event. He said the Native American monument has something in common with other monuments dedicated to veterans. "These memorials bring us together as one," Jones said, noting how many different veterans' organizations were there and the different wars and military conflicts individual veterans had served in. After the ceremony, Badger Fuller of Pennacook, his children and a co-worker, Jean Durgin, a Gold Star mother from Henniker, were among the first to see the new monument up close and to pay tribute. Durgin is the mother of Army Sgt. Russel Durgin, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in June 2006. Fuller, a veteran of the U.S. Army and Marines, said there couldn't have been a more perfect day, weather-wise, for the unveiling. "This monument is a long time in coming, but I am appreciative that it is here now," said Fuller, who served in the military for more than 10 years, mostly in Germany, though he spent some time in Iraq during the Desert Storm conflict. Newell said money for the monument was raised through various efforts, including a successful Native American Harvest Dinner held last November in Laconia. "We expected 100 and 300 turned up," Newell said, adding the Council may hold another dinner this year, though during the first week of December rather than the beginning of November. He said the Council was given a good price on the monument by Perry Brothers. The monument cost about $20,000 Newell said. During the ceremony, Newell was presented with a check for $4,000 to help pay for the monument from a state chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Newell said the effort to have a monument erected began a few years ago when he and others realized there were no memorials in the state for Native American veterans. He said he is glad the Council was able to accomplish its goal and that it will bring a sense of pride, peace and reflection to many. "To have it here at the state Veterans Cemetery means a lot," Newell said. "This one of most peaceful places I know." http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20101114%2FGJNEWS02%2F711149871%2F-1%2FCITNEWS

 

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