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Pres. Begaye welcomes Vietnam Veterans for moving wall ceremony

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TWIN ARROWS-On Friday, Aug. 11, during the opening ceremony for the Moving Wall at the Twin Arrows Navajo Casino and Resort, President Russell Begaye welcomed home all Vietnam Veterans, reinforcing that they deserved an honorable homecoming for their service.

“Welcome home Vietnam Veterans. You were not welcomed home like you should have been,” President Begaye said. “We are thankful and grateful to each and every Vietnam Veteran that is here today and to those of the over 58,000 names on the wall.”

The Moving Wall is a half-sized replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. that travels across the country giving people the opportunity to see it in their local communities. While being hosted at Twin Arrows, the wall is located on the west side of the casino.

President Begaye was joined by Hopi Chairman Herman Honanie, U.S. Congressman for Arizona District 1 Tom O’Halleran, Coconino County District 4 Supervisor Jim Parks, Navajo Council Delegate Alton Joe Shepherd (Jeddito, Cornfields, Ganado, Kin Dah Lichi, Steamboat), and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Hiroshi H. Miyamura among many others at the opening ceremony.

President Begaye welcomed all veterans to the event, Native American or otherwise.

“We honor all U.S. Veterans who defended the U.S. flag,” the president said. “When the National Anthem is played and we recite the Pledge of Allegiance, we unite to honor all those who have fought and continue to defend our great Nation.”

Congressman O’Halleran said that he was honored to be in the midst of so many brave soldiers including those whose names were on the wall.  He said that for the last six months he’s been working with Congress to help provide care for veterans “from now into the future.”

“They gave the ultimate sacrifice to our country. We cannot forget their families, their wives and children,” he said. “We cannot forget that they died for the freedom of the great U.S.”

President Begaye agreed that every Vietnam Veteran deserves to be taken care of, whether by affording them housing or providing them better care through a Veterans Administration or Indian Health Service hospital.

“Saying thank you is not enough. We have to do more.” President Begaye said. “We have to be there walking along side our veterans as they struggle and recover. That is the least we can do for them.”

Chairman Honanie said that through the service of his two brothers, his in laws and his oldest son that he’s been provided exposure to the military. He recognized that Native Americans had a huge part in preserving the liberty and democracy of the U.S.

“Earlier someone spoke about democracy and our freedom. This is what they fought for and this is what they preserved. I’m proud of them,” Chairman Honanie said.

During the ceremony, tribal leaders and county representatives were given the opportunity to roll call fallen soldiers from their county or tribal nation. Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Hiroshi H. Miyamura was also honored and spoke about his time as a prisoner in the Korean War.

In providing the opening prayer, Council Delegate Alton Joe Shepherd called upon the Navajo Nation to continue to honor those who have given “the ultimate sacrifice and not come back” and to also help our veterans find peace and harmony.

Each and every veteran has a story but many of those stories will remain within them.

“They know what they did for this nation,” President Begaye said. “I want to say thank you. For the fallen comrades on the wall, we will forever hold you in our hearts.”

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