Southeast Alaska Native Veterans hosted Veteran’s Day ceremony

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – Friday afternoon, Southeast Alaska Native Veterans Affiliation held a ceremony and luncheon in honor of Veterans Day.

Friday afternoon was the Veterans Day Ceremony & Luncheon hosted by Southeast Alaska Native Veterans on the Elizabeth Peratrovich Corridor.

The occasion ran from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Lunch consisted of deer and vegetable stew, halibut, rice, herring eggs, frybread, and cake for dessert.

Particular visitor, retired Military Main Common Richard Mustion, traveled from Tampa, FL to be part of the ceremony.

It was the primary time a Main Common attended the ceremony.

Military Lieutenant Colonel Christine Youngquist from Virginia additionally attended.

Mustion stated he served within the military for simply over 34 years.

He stated what it meant to him to be part of Veteran’s Day in Juneau.

“Very shifting, very humbling to be round so many veterans, notably those that served within the Vietnam period. So it is a large expertise to be right here. It feels good to have the ability to cease and pause for a brief time period on a day to acknowledge that our mission would not be what it’s at this time. We would not expertise the freedoms that we have now and the power of our nation would not be what it’s if it weren’t provided the veterans and the sacrifices and the providers that they’ve given on behalf of our nation.”

Mustion in contrast visiting Juneau to his previous experiences in Alaska.

“It feels good. It feels totally different additionally as a result of my experiences earlier than in Alaska have been between January and March in these years. It was approach up north. So it is like 40 under zero after I was in Fairbanks. It is good to have the ability to be down right here to see a very totally different atmosphere with the Alaskan Natives which are right here on this explicit space.”

Mustion stated what stood out to him probably the most about assembly the Alaska Native veterans.

“They’re very keen about their service and issues that they’ve contributed to the nation. That stands out they usually take loads of pleasure in what they’ve accomplished. That actually stands out and also you see that within the room if you’re speaking to the veterans.”

Above: Military Veteran Ray Wilson (left) and Military Main Common Richard Mustion (proper) lay the wreath. Under: Mustion offers a speech on Alaska Natives’ very important position within the U.S. navy and thanks them for his or her service.

Jackie Pata, Vice President of Tlingit & Haida, spoke on the ceremony.

“The introduction that we are saying on a regular basis in Lingít, we all the time say noble individuals, self-respecting individuals. We are saying that in our language as we open up. I am unable to consider a greater crowd to say that in entrance of at this time. You honored warriors, you self-respecting representatives of our individuals. However that struggle for freedom, we all know too nicely. That struggle for our homelands was constructed core into who we’re as individuals. It is a part of our DNA, our homelands our households, our tradition, our individuals. And if you got here house, from no matter battles or battle or illustration that you just did within the navy service, you stored that. Right this moment as I am trying on the viewers, I see warriors of tradition and language.”

Above: Pata (center) led the Nationwide Anthem.

Pata stated that the vest she wore Friday was her uncle Bob Anderson’s vest, a purple coronary heart recipient.

Commander Wm Ozzie Sheakley stated Veteran’s Day is a day for remembering and neighborhood.

“Veteran’s Day to me means we are able to honor all these veterans who weren’t in a position to come out, they keep house rather a lot. Right this moment they get to get pleasure from different individuals. We misplaced loads of veterans within the final three, or 4 years. When a veteran dies, they’re allowed one flag folded to them. That is why I introduced this flag to recollect all these veterans who died.”

Above: A Lingít battle masks Sheakley says may be very particular rests on prime of the folded Purple Coronary heart flag. Sheakley stands on the stage. Under: Veterans started the ceremony with the Posting of Colours.

Sheakley defined the importance of the battle helmet that was rigorously dealt with throughout the ceremony.

“The helmet, we normally speak about helmets utilized in World Warfare Two, and Korea, these ones. However we used that helmet for a very long time, after which we have been advised that it belonged to the US. The Russians bought it and advised us that they owned it. It is vital to have that right here but it surely’s particular to have these. There have been warriors earlier than Individuals got here up right here and the Russians got here up right here, they used it once they fought. So we do not use it. We make sure that it is carried up right here on a regular basis and respect the helmet as a result of it belonged to someone that was in battle earlier than. To us, these issues are our individuals. Every thing they taught, all our regalia and blankets we use, via us they’re people who used to put on it earlier than us prior to now. Their spirits are nonetheless with the blankets or the dance regalia. Together with this right here, the place somebody wore it earlier than us. So it is like they’re becoming a member of us right here now too.”

Above and under: A Lingít dance group carried out whereas Veterans loved their lunch.