So Long My Friend Kenneth Riege

from Gallup Journey Magazine - January 2023

UNM names Dr. Sabrina Ezzell as UNM-Gallup Chancellor

So Long My Friend

By Kenneth Riege USAF Veteran

Of all the stories I have written this one was the toughest as this is a farewell (for now) to my dearest friend Hershey. As I am writing this, I am already getting those teary-eyed feelings, but will push through.

November 29th, 2022, started out fine. Waking up and getting ready for work just like any other day. However, it didn’t take long for this day to become one of the saddest days I can remember.

I guess the first call came in around 7:30 from The National Medal of Honor Society and then from his fellow Medal of Honor Recipients and then calls to and from Hershey’s family. That terrible day is sort of a blur now as I was receiving and making many different calls and texting to share the sad news and to help with the planning of his funeral.

There is a lot of planning and coordinating when it comes to a funeral for a veteran of Hershey’s stature and while the services were beautiful and so befitting, he would have fussed about all the attention he was getting. Hershey was such a simple and humble man.

The rest of that day was spent at home while Retha and I shared our very own “Hershey Stories” mixed between laughs and or course tears.

The following week seems so long ago now with coordinating room reservations, military

protocol and dealing with the feelings of losing someone so close to you. There were many requests from news media too, but for myself I wasn’t ready to share my feelings regarding Hershey’s passing. Now, I feel more comfortable in sharing a few Hershey stories and pictures of our times together. Hershey had the greatest sense of humor and loved a good belly laugh and My wife Retha took this picture. had the best smile. She had that special ability to bring My family is so truly out the kid in Hershey and to make blessed to have had him laugh. Hershey as such an important part of our lives for many years. Some of our best times were just hanging out with him at his house. Most of the visits always included working on his jigsaw puzzles, watching sports or just sitting at the table and sharing stories. I dearly miss my friend. I miss calling him (which Hershey told me I always called him on Mondays to talk about the weekend football games) and hearing his voice. I miss his smile and his sense of humor. I will always cherish the times that we had together and to do my best to live by his motto of: “Always Believe in Yourself, God and Country.”

I just call this one “Hershey and the Aliens”

These are a few of our favorite pictures spending time with Hershey. He had received some chocolates from a friend and as everyone knew, Hershey had a sweet tooth. He also loved a good bottle of wine. Here we are trying to decide which chocolate to try next.

As I mentioned earlier, Hershey loved football and he really enjoyed going to a Miyamura High School Football Game to cheer on his Patriots.

He loved to get dressed in his Miyamura High School Gear and enjoy some popcorn and a hot dog while at the game.

This photo is my favorite selfie with Hershey. Speaking of selfie’s, Hershey loved to take them with the kids at his school too.

I will close with a poem written by Dave Kelly called “Fair Winds and Following Seas”

Fair Winds and following seas May forever you feel, upon your cheek, the salty breeze Your spirit lives on in many a heart, Your words captured and never to depart. May your loved ones be comforted knowing That heaven is where you are going. For all that we have to do is look above, And we will be reminded of your love.

TIO-O

SARAH MENAPACE-WALKER

Prehistoric Gardens & Rainforest

We ventured out of our truck camper and took a trip back in time to the Prehistoric Gardens & Rainforest in Port Orford, Oregon, 16 miles north of Gold Beach this summer.

We began our quarter mile walk by following dinosaur tracks. You feel as if you have been transported back in time to this 300-year-old rainforest along the Oregon Coast that receives 80 to 100 inches of rain per year. The beauty of this rainforest environment is a feast for the eyes with lush green vegetation in abundance along with a thick canopy of treetop branches and leaves. This is the best and most unique way to experience this amazing landscape. As you walk along the trail, you go over foot bridges with a creek running underneath with plant life overflowing from its banks. You also can view an old wagon road the gold miners (prospectors) used to gain passage to the coast.

Oh, did I forget to mention that there are life-size dinosaurs, too! There are 23 different dinosaurs along the trail, but a PINK Triceratops! You got to be kidding me! You can’t miss this Jurassic experience that has been a roadside attraction since 1955. You can’t miss finding the park as there is a giant T-Rex standing outside to greet you or EAT You!

The sun sizzled across the desert floor; vague images shimmered in the distance. A horned toad scurried away in a hurry, not wanting to be crushed by the dust covered boots as the black images walked past. The toad scurrying away into the brush as the image walked past followed by the sounds of horse hooves clamping on the ground. The images, a man and his horse slowly making their way through the red earth desert where yucca plants, cliff roses, sagebrush and tumble weeds dotted the land. A trail of blood droplets in their wake along with money that blew freely out of the saddle bag. They left footprints of struggled and weary steps. Off in the distance he saw a Navajo Hogan. They made their way in that direction, the dogs barked as a Navajo woman exited the Hogan with a rifle.

“Help me, please, I’ll give you Beso, money! please help me.” He said as he showed her his blood covered hands. She lowered the rifle as he fainted and fell to the ground…

He opened his eyes, blurred vision he noticed a small bed and small kitchen against the wall. A stove with fire crackling in the center of the round house. He heard of structured homes like this called a Hogan. He moved to sit up and felt the pain in his left hip. He looked down and saw bandages under his shirt. But he was alone in the Hogan. He managed to stand himself up and walk to the front door. He heard the dogs barking outside, he rested against the small, framed door and squinted his eyes from the brightness outside. He could see a corral with his horse pinned inside eating some brush. The horse looked at ease. He noticed the Navajo woman, young in age, around the age of 30 walking back towards the Hogan. The closer she got to the Hogan she noticed him standing. She sped up and ran up to him, in Diné bizaad, the Navajo language she said, “What are you doing up? Your wounds are not healed. You’ll reopen your gunshot wound!”.

She nudged him to the bed, “Lie down, you’ve been asleep for 2 weeks”.

He laid down, in the back of his mind he wondered where the money was. But did not ask, his health was more important. He laid down and she covered him with a blanket. She said, “Your money is safe, I buried it, I’ll show you when your healthy enough”. But he did not understand her, but the calm in her voice assured him everything was OK.

TAYLOR CISCO AND HER HORSE GUNNER

Owners Anthony & Patricia Arviso

ENCHANTMENT PHYSICAL THERAPY

Organic to New Mexico & Navajo Nation

We are a progress-driven Physical Therapy Clinic.

Navajo-Owned business located in Gallup & Rio Rancho, NM

Professional and Caring Staff One-on-One Care We take pride in Manual Therapy, Patient Education and Healing. Visit our website: www.enchantmentpt.com

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