By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News
Every year, in commemoration of Veterans Day, the Hibulb Cultural Center (HCC) pays tribute to those who served in the Armed Forces by offering free admission to veterans and their families. This year, the cultural center observed the holiday on Sunday, November 12, and had a special display set up in their hallway that featured military medals, patches, uniforms, and a star quilt made by the local Veterans Quilt Project, all donated by Tribal veterans.
The highlight of the day took place at noon, when the Tulalip Honor Guard entered the HCC longhouse proudly holding high an eagle staff, the US flag, the Tulalip Tribes flag, the Tulalip Veterans flag, and the POW flag. After placing the flags into weighted stands, the Honor Guard took a seat amongst their family, friends, and fellow service men and women as a few opening remarks were shared by Museum Manager, Mytyl Hernandez, and Tulalip Veterans Coordinator, William Mclean III (US Marine Corps).
Prior to the pandemic, this event packed the longhouse wall to wall as veterans from all around the state traveled to attend the gathering. This year was the official return of the presentation of colors and roll call ceremony. This was due, in part, to two years of gathering restrictions and the unveiling of the National Native American Veterans Memorial monument, a trip that took Tulalip veterans cross country to Washington D.C. on Veterans Day weekend in 2022.
The Veterans Day honoring had a smaller turnout than in years past, but this provided an intimate setting and allowed the veterans to open up more during roll call and not feel as rushed. With around 35 community members in attendance, Tribal veterans accounted for over half of the participants. And one by one, they shared their military branch, years of service, and their experience as an active-duty member of the Armed Forces. Many also felt safe enough to talk about the reason they enlisted and the positive impact of that decision to join.
“I joined to turn my life around and save myself,” said Tribal member and Army veteran, Demitri Jones-Robinson. “I was going down a bad path and wanted to change a lot of things about myself. [The Army] has changed my life completely; it’s allowed me to live a better life. Today, my daughter gets to be in my life, and I have a beautiful family. It’s an honor to be here and be a part of this with all of you. I am so grateful.”
In addition to sharing about their time in the military, the veterans also reflected on the lives of their brothers and sisters in arms who died in combat or are no longer with us today.
“I lost a lot of friends and relatives in combat,” said Hank Williams, Tulalip elder and US Army and National Guard Veteran. “The closest one was Walter Moses Jr. Him and I played football together in Marysville. He was the punter, and he was my substitute, so we’d run around together. He decided to go because his brother was there, Ray Moses. He wanted to serve alongside his brother. He went in and he was in communications, but he transferred because he wanted to be where his brother was – the front lines. He was there 30 days, and he got killed. That was something that really hit me hard, losing a friend and a relative.”
HCC presented a gift bag to each veteran during the event as well as to any veterans who toured the museum on the holiday. And following roll call, the community was invited to share light refreshments and good conversation in one of the cultural center’s classrooms.
After the ceremony concluded, member of the Tulalip Honor Guard and Army Veteran, Rocky Renecker shared, “Now that I’m a little older and have kids, I have so much more gratitude for this day. Because it’s a day to honor every man, woman, and persons who signed up and dedicated their life to their country – past, present, and future. Each year, I’m so appreciative that I get to hear these men and women. To hear their stories and about where they come from. Like our eldest veteran, Hank Williams, it was an honor to hear him speak about his time in the service and about his friend. I just have so much gratitude for all the men and women in the military service and what they have done for our country.”
Happy Veterans Day to all those who have served in the US Armed Forces. We thank you for your dedication and commitment to our country. We are grateful for your bravery and courage while defending our freedom.