3 Takeaways:

• The special recognition ceremony honored and commemorated all SRPMIC members and staff who have served in the military.
• Veteran Pacer Reina served as the event emcee.
• SRPMIC President Martin Harvier, Tom Largo Sr., Bryan Meyers, Kurt Thomas and Joseph Fernandez provided speeches and blessings during the ceremony. 

Every year, it is important to celebrate and thank those brave individuals who have served their country. 

On Friday, Nov. 7, a few days before the Veterans Day holiday, in the Two Waters Courtyard, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community held a Veterans Day celebration to honor Community members and staff who have served in the U.S. military. This year, both Community veterans and employee veterans were honored at the same event. 

“As you know, in Indian Country, veterans, or warriors, have always been a part of our Community,” began event emcee Pacer Reina. “We’ve always recognized the men and women that stood up to defend our homes and Community. For the O’odham and Piipaash, it’s always been mentioned that we were farmers first. In doing that, as a part of our culture, history and sustainment of our tribe, we always had those willing to defend what we had here in the Community,” he stated. 

Reina, a veteran himself, continued, “The first Arizona National Guard was made up of O’odham and Piipaash warriors. They served alongside the United States Army, to the point that our Community should stay here in Arizona. Our efforts from our warriors were part of that process of placing us here in Salt River, in the northeast part of the Valley.”

Reina listed the military campaigns in which Community men and women have served: World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Korea, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Grenada, Panama and more. 

“We have always recognized that our warriors have stood alongside the warriors, veterans and military of the United States,” said Reina. 

After the introduction, veteran and former SRPMIC Council member Tom Largo Sr. provided the opening blessing. “It’s always a blessing to come together to honor and praise the God that gave us life,” he said. 

Isabella Dockerty, Piipaash education specialist, then sang the national anthem in O’odham. As she performed, the Westwood High School Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JRTOC) paraded the colors. 

Additionally, the Westwood marching band performed. This year’s band features SRPMIC superstar student-musician Ella McGilbary on clarinet. 

Later, SRPMIC President Martin Harvier reiterated the importance of celebrating veterans, as well as how Native languages were used in conflict on behalf the federal government. “There’s a picture that was [published] by the Arizona Republic on Feb. 9, 1941, and [it] shows Wesley Antone and Herbert Emerson using walkie-talkies to send messages in the O’odham language,” he said.

Harvier’s speech also highlighted the ongoing construction of the Lehi Veterans Memorial at the Lehi Cemetery. He later revealed that the Community will soon be constructing a Veterans Memorial at the Salt River Cemetery. “I know that our veterans will play a big role in that project,” he said. 

Kurt Thomas, a Community member veteran, and Joseph Fernandez, an employee veteran who works for the Salt River Police Department, also provided remarks. 

“I joined the United States Marine Corps in 2003, shortly after 9/11. I did two tours, both combat,” began Thomas. He was overcome with emotion but remained calm as he extended his appreciation to the Community. Thomas is currently a supervisor for SRPMIC Health and Human Services.

Fernandez (Pascua Yaqui) spoke with deep conviction. “Before joining the Community [in the police records department], I did four years enlisted in the Navy, onboard the U.S.S. Washington. It was a pretty common occurrence at that time to look out into the ocean and see nothing else—no boat, no land, just the team members and shipmates with you.

“A group of 5,000 of us, no matter your background or where you came from, took you in with one important thing, which was the mission, and to be a uniformed team to complete that goal. From my experience working here, I’m proud to say I see that exact same commitment to teamwork from our employee and Community veterans,” he stated. 

As the celebration neared its conclusion, veteran and SRPMIC Community Manager Bryan Meyers read a new SRPMIC proclamation that highlights and honors the birthdays of all six branches of the U.S. military. 

Afterward, a roll call was held in which Community veterans announced their names and the branch of the military in which they served. The Council members thanked every veteran who participated in the roll call. 

Later, Len Andrews, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, provided the closing prayer: “We ask for your divine healing touch upon the lives of our veterans, who carry wounds of battle, both visible and hidden. May your love restore their spirits.”