Home > Waco Breaking News > Archives > 2008 > November > 21 > Entry
Waco VA celebration to honor native Americans
Here’s a release about a celebration honoring native Americans today at the Waco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. I’m told that the meal for participants is being cooked in a pit dug in the ground in the Indian tradition. The person doing the cooking started at 5:30 this morning. (Full disclosure: the photo at right is not from the event, but from a Google search online.)
This event is open to the public. Here’s the release:
The Central Texas Veterans Health Care System honors the generations of American Indians and Alaska Natives at a “Veterans’ Dance” celebration Friday beginning at 11 a.m. at the Waco VA Medical Center between Stracke Auditorium (Building 6) and Building 11.
CTVHCS Native American Program Committee invites the media and the public to attend the colorful celebration that includes: Native American music, dance, drummers, an Indian health service display, and food. The celebration is part of Native American Heritage Month.
Native American Indians from the Kickapoo, Cherokee, Apache, Choctaw, Comanche, Navaho, Black Foot, and Seminole Nations will participate in the program. Beginning at 1 p.m., traditional dances and songs will be performed by over 50 dancers from across the nation. Songs will include the Veterans’ Song, Flag Song, War Mothers’ Song, as well as songs from past and current wars; World War II, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Family and veterans will be asked to join in the dance to honor the veterans of each war.
Of the 2.5 million Native Americans and Alaskan natives in the United States, the 2000 Census reported that 195, 871 are veterans. Nearly 12,000 served in the military during World War I, over 44,000 during World War II, and approximately 42,000 fought in Vietnam of which 90 percent were volunteers.
The rich history of our Native Americans speaks to us through the names of our cities, lakes, and rivers; the magnificent ruins of ancient communities; and most important, through the lives of the people who retain the cultural, spiritual linguistic, and kinship bonds. Please join us as we celebrate National American Indian Heritage Month.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Around Central Texas
Comments