Veteran’s Corner Sandra McKinney

GALLUP CITIZENS HONORING VETERANS

veterans corner

By Sandra McKinney

Gallup, New Mexico, is recognized as a very patriotic community. There is a great reason for this designation with the history of the Navajo Code Talkers who gave invaluable assistance in winning World War II by using the code in the Navajo language which was never broken. Gallup had many citizens who fought and died during World War II. We also had a strong representation of young men who were involved in the Bataan Death March, as it was the New Mexico National Guard that was deployed to the Philippians and ultimately helped prevent a Japanese invasion of Australia. Many of our Gallup members of the New Mexico National Guard were captured, tortured, and held as Prisoners of War and were forced to walk the infamous 65-mile “Death March.”

And, of course, many of our young men fought during the Korean War, which produced our local hero and Medal of Honor Recipient, Heroshi (Hershey) Miyamura. Gallup also provided many young soldiers who went to Vietnam and returned without a Welcome Home. Since the beginning of Desert Storm, Gallup soldiers have fought and died in the Middle East. So many of our young Native Americans from the area will enlist in the Armed Forces to show their patriotism and to fight for their country.

War is an event which no human should have to endure. Many of our soldiers return home, but never leave the battle fields within their minds. Too many of them suffer from physical injuries, loss of limbs, and also from the pain of the mind – Post Traumatic Stress (In the days of WWII, it was called “Shell Shock.”).

We as citizens, cannot do enough to recognize and honor our veterans. We have a newly-formed local group called The Gallup Citizens Honoring Veterans. This is an organization created by a group of caring people in the area with the purpose of honoring veterans for their service to our nation and community. It is their intent to raise funds to assist with some of the veterans’ needs.

As part of their effort, Gallup Citizens Honoring Veterans will be hosting a dinner and dance event on Friday, November 2, 2018, from 6:00pm to 11:00pm, at the Hilton Garden Inn. This event is just a small effort to say thank you to our men and women who have served in all branches of the United States Armed Forces.

Tickets for this event may be purchased at Sundance Motors on 1121 N. US 491, from 10:00am to 5:00pm (Monday through Saturday), or you may call Jill O’Keefe at (505) 870-5957 or Carla Baade at (505) 870-4463 to make purchase and sponsorship arrangements.

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This organization is requesting individuals and businesses to contribute to this event in the form of a cash donation or by sponsoring veterans to attend the dinner and dance. Various citizens and businesses in the area will be donating items which will be auctioned during the night of the event. We also offer a single sponsorship of $50, which will cover the dinner of one Veteran the night of the event, as well as a donation in your name to the Gallup Veterans Helping Veterans organization. We encourage you to personally participate in the event by purchasing tickets for you, your family, friends, and business associates.

Proceeds from this event will be given to the local Post of Gallup Veterans Helping Veterans. This organization is a group of local men and women veterans who promote healing, fellowship, and camaraderie, and who assist each other in obtaining deserved veteran benefits.

Donations may also be made directly to Veterans Helping Veterans by contacting David Cuellar at (505) 8793333 or through email at gallupveterans@outlook.com, or by dropping by the Post at 908 Buena Vista in Ford Canyon. You may also visit the Gallup Veterans Helping Veterans Facebook page to learn about their meeting times and some of their events.

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We live and work right here in our community. We know what the homes are like in the area. So we can offer advice you can trust to help you get the protection that fits your needs. If you’re ready to talk home insurance or need some advice about protecting all that’s important to you, call us today. We’ll make you feel right at home.

Angela Biava 505-722-6900

196 E. Highway 66 Gallup, New Mexico angela.biava@allstate.com

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Lee Begay - Navajo

Started: Fall 2009

Style: Tufa Casting, Lapidary

Teacher: Darryl Dean Begay, brother

Awards: First-Place Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, First-Place Shiprock Fair, and Navajo Nation Fair

Galleries: Perry Null Trading Company, Garland’s Indian Jewelry, and Dennis June Gallery

Meagan Shetima

Started: I just started creating my art in 2016. I learned the craft from my late cousin Kendall Shetima, my mentor. I have also been teaching my girlfriend, Shannon Waatsa. She is an upand-coming carver as well. Style: The style I enjoy is Fetish Carving. Awards: First-Place for my first Eagle in Flagstaff, Arizona, at the art show at The Northern Museum of Arizona. First-Place at the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial.Best of Class at The Heard Show in Phoenix, Arizona. Second-Place winner twice at the Zuni Mainstreet Festival. Galleries: Keshi, The Connection, Wright’s Indian Art Gallery, Sunshine Studios, and Quick Silver Gallery.

Nathan Nez - Navajo

Started: I am self taught. I have taught my kids.

Style: Navajo Abstract

Awards: Mural design for Health Care of the Homeless for the City of Albuquerque

Galleries: Gemini Gallery, Winslow Arizona, Wrights Indian Art Gallery, Albuquerque, RB Ravens Gallery, Taos.