Submitted Photo Austin Gillette, commander of the Young Hawk-Bear American Legion Post 253, carrying Post 253’s staff, leads the procession of post and auxiliary members into the Old Scouts Cemetery for White Shield’s Memorial Day observance on Friday. The community observes the traditional Memorial Day on May 30. Photo by Karen LoneFight.

WHITE SHIELD – Memorial Day in White Shield is always observed on the same day – the traditional Memorial Day, May 30.

On Friday, 13 family and community cemeteries in the White Shield District were given a gun salute to honor veterans by seven members of the Young Hawk-Bear American Legion Post 253 of White Shield. The seven members set up one arm apart. Post Chaplain Mike Roy said a prayer for the fallen, and then the rifles were fired.

At one of the larger cemeteries at 11 a.m., the auxiliary provided a quick snack, coffee and water, and then it was on to the next cemetery until ending up at the Old Scouts Cemetery near White Shield, where they were joined by the color guard. Dead Grass also was at the cemetery and performed several honor songs.

Afterward, everyone went to the new Old Scouts Veterans Memorial Building in White Shield, where the auxiliary served a meal, speakers were heard and more performances continued.

All the names of deceased military members were read and a moment of silence was observed, then names of all military members in the tribe who lost their lives last year were read, bringing to close a true remembrance of lives lost.

Submitted Photo
Jerlene Arredondo, U.S. Marine Corps and guest speaker at White Shield’s Memorial Day, looks at markers in the Old Scouts Cemetery. Photo by Karen LoneFight.