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| Wake for a Lakota Sioux / U.S. Marine |
| 2006-02-06 |
| From a Native American colleague of mine who is also an Army officer: This is a slide show that shows a Lakota Sioux wake and ceremony for a Marine that was killed in Iraq. It shows you the integration of 2 cultures and the specific Sioux culture. Native Americans have the highest per capita service of any ethnic group. We are only less than 1% of the total US population. Native Americans do not typically allow photography at traditional ceremonial events; this is why I am sending this to you. You may never be able to see this again. There are a couple photos with Cpl. Brett LundstromÂ’s body in the coffin, so please review before you show any one else. Semper Fi, Lone Eagle. We honor your bravery and sacrifice. |
| Posted by:lotp |
| #13 Wow... link takes you to slide show. Be sure to read the article as well. I have been teary for a half an hour now. |
| Posted by: Capsu78 2006-02-06 22:33 |
| #12 Sheeler and Heisler's story before made me cry like a little girl. That some people do such a difficult job with such love and sensitivity. I sent an email expressing my admiration and got responses from the author and a note they were sending the "thank you for your service" on to the Marine in charge of notification in the story - truly an honorable and patriotic reporter |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-02-06 20:49 |
| #11 God bless him and his family. True warriors. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2006-02-06 20:40 |
| #10 And many Eastern Europeans in WWI and especially WWII and Korea. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-02-06 20:22 |
| #9 You noticed that the end of the photos had a link to the previous Rocky Mountain News story about Marined who bring the bad news to the famailies of those fallen in the line of duty? It brought tears to my eyes, when I first saw it. God bless them, every one. Service was also they way the Irish integrated themselves into a society that disliked them, via the police and fire departments, almost a hundred years ago. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2006-02-06 20:06 |
| #8 God rest him & may his family be comforted. A true hero. |
| Posted by: BigEd 2006-02-06 16:28 |
| #7 I've been to that school and gym. In the 60s & 70s an older cousin's husband was coach there. I ran in to the Lakota Souix again when they worked with Centennial Edu. Program at the University of Nebraska to create a written langauge for the Lakota people. I wasn't directly involved but got to know quite a few. By in large they had a hard life. My heart goes out to the families. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-02-06 16:07 |
| #6 Ya ta hey. |
| Posted by: mojo 2006-02-06 15:27 |
| #5 Way cool, lotp. My great grandmother might've said the only good Souix is a dead Souix, but that's cuz she was Comanche to the bone. Perspective, usually in the form of time, is the greatest gift... |
| Posted by: .com 2006-02-06 12:15 |
| #4 Thanks, lotp. Very moving. I wish I knew a proper blessing, so I'll say Thanks, you served your tribe and your nation with honor. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-02-06 11:39 |
| #3 Very touching indeed. Thank you Lotp for posting this. Thank you Lone Eagle for your bravery. |
| Posted by: Poitiers-Lepanto 2006-02-06 11:33 |
| #2 My friend's father was career military. She was the first Native American woman to graduate from West Point. For some of her family, military service was a way to move up from poverty and despair. Not all of her family has made it that way. But her daughter is now at MIT majoring in neuro- and cognitive science. And they have been there to help some of the family back home on more than one occasion. She takes her young nephews and nieces to places like MIT and says, "You can do this too. You CAN do this." |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-02-06 11:18 |
| #1 Very touching pictures. It is a real shame a better job has not been done of integrating these people into the nation. Not that I have any brilliant ideas I've been keeping to myself. But the poverty and hoplessness of the reservations are palpable, even if one is only driving through. Semper Fi, indeed. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-02-06 11:12 |