Final Roll Call

"Well, this is different", my husband said to the mortician as we walked into the American Legion.

We went to the wake of Richard Galeano which had been moved from the funeral home to the American Legion down the block. We entered a room filled with Native Americans, most from the Pine Ridge Reservation, many attendees in military uniform, flags, quilts and displays of photos, medals, three Native staffs representing three different tribes, and prominent at the front of the room lay Richard in his wooden casket.

The atmosphere, unlike the usual visitation, was less stilted and more relaxed. There was a certain solemnity, but also the casualness of friends and family at an annual reunion. The ceremony was led by Ben Good Buffalo, friend of Richard, with other friends and family members entering in with songs, chants and testimonies to the life of a father, husband, brother, veteran of the U.S. Air Force and long-time friend and teacher to many.

An extraordinary meal followed the service, with traditional fry bread among many other choices. All of this was unique to me, even though I had grown up in a world with three day wakes in the living room of the deceased, including conversation, food, laughter and tears, with an open casket in the living room for all to view. I now wonder how our culture lost the richness of a wake to be replaced by the formality of a visitation.

The most impressive moments for me were when Frank Marshall, veteran service officer for the tribe stood near the casket and called roll call to all of the military, most in uniform and standing in attention in a line at the side of the room. He announced each name in a loud voice, and in an equally strong voice each responded with "Yes, SIR". Finally he called out, "Richard Wendell Galeano." No answer. Again, "Richard Wendell  Galeano." No answer. A third time, "Richard Wendell Galeano."

Vincent Ten Fingers, a Vietnam veteran's strong voice replied, "Not here, SIR. He is with a higher command."

Rest in Peace

Richard Galeano died yesterday. He may not be widely known, but to us fighting the battle to save our VA in Hot Springs, he was an inspiration. He showed up early on in the struggle, bravely spoke up in front of friends and foes, and, once again, fought another battle as the faithful soldier he remained all his life.

Richard was among the six veterans that I interviewed for Reveille in Hot Springs: The Battle to Save our VA who have all fought their last battle and are now at peace. I will attend yet another funeral for another veteran who will always remain in my heart, and his testimony in the book will outlast me to enlighten others long into the future.

During his interview he shared his pride in his family's strong military heritage. He and two of his brothers were both in the Air Force during the sixties. Two of his sons served in the U.S. Marine Corps and his third son is in the U.S. Army and received a Bronze Star three times for his service in Iraq.

As his health deteriorated Richard would still appear at all of the meetings for Save our VA that he could possibly attend, accompanied by his oxygen tank. I would look for his wave of acknowledgment when he spotted me in the crowd.

What I will remember best about Richard was his attention to the needs of the Native Americans who used our VA, and his part in establishing the first sweat lodge at our VA to assist these Natives in their recovery.

Toward the end of his life Richard would still conduct some of the sweats at the VA when no one else was available. He had his own sweat lodge at his home in the country where he would welcome all who joined him in prayer.

The following is the last paragraph from his chapter in Reveille in Hot Springs:

You don't have to be a Native American to go through a sweat lodge ceremony. No matter what color, all participants are brother veterans. The Hot Springs VA has shown its uniqueness for all veterans by being the first VA facility to provide a sweat lodge, which helps in the healing of many veterans. The Inipi is located in a peaceful, secluded corner of the VA. Every Friday the smoke can be seen rising from the steam of the heated rocks, carrying the prayers and songs of veterans, with hope and possibilities for renewal and recovery.

Whenever I see smoke I will remember this veteran who recognized the importance of the sweat lodge in the healing of veterans. Long may the smoke rise at our VA!

Hindsight

The doe and her fawn were standing frozen in our back yard by the headlights of our car as we pulled into our driveway from a long day on the Rez. In front of them was a fat rabbit, also caught immobile by our lights. We sat watching for some seconds when the doe casually walked off, followed by her doe, tailed by the rabbit.

It was a fitting end to a fascinating, educational day doing a lengthy interview on KILI radio station located on Pine Ridge reservation.

For several days I had panicked over a TV interview last Sunday. Looking back, all the stress was for naught. The reporter did the best she could after an hour of interviewing, condensing everything into her one minute and 25 seconds of allotted time. She focused on one point, but even then I received many emails and several phone calls commenting on that brief segment.

"You will save the VA single-handed with your book", was one response.

I really doubt that, but the caller's comment was much appreciated. Our time is limited and we need to have an impact on the powers that be in Washington to save our very special VA and other benefits for all of our veterans.

The following day, Veteran's Day, two of the veterans from my book, RJ and Sylsvester, my husband and I drove to KILI radio on Pine Ridge. Sylvester had driven with his wife from Rosebud. The entire experience at the station was casual,hilarious and welcoming, all at the same time.

Our interview was scheduled for 1:00 that day. The previous guests, scheduled for noon, arrived late. The host, Tom Casey and I were visiting, when he looked up at the clock and casually announced that he had to go teach a class at the college and I would have to conduct the interview by myself.

"After all, you do interviews, don't you? You interviewed all of the veterans, including the two who came with you."

"No way", I responded. "When do you get back from teaching?"

"I will be back about 4:00, but what will you do until then?"

Well, all of us went to lunch at an intimate restaurant about 15 miles away, probably the closest available place. It was located with a motel in the center of the reservation. Who would ever come to this remote location for rooms or food? It turns out there were some ranchers and some residents from the reservation who had stopped in on this bitterly cold day. Everyone who came in knew the veterans that had come with me for the interview. One of them, RJ, had taught and been a principal on Pine Ridge for many years, and the other, Sylvester, was a Lakota from the Rosebud Reservation, three hours to the north.

After lunch we all travelled back to the radio station and waited another 20 minutes or so until the host returned from teaching. We had some great conversation time with a DJ who was manning the station and with one another, including the wife of one of the veterans. It was all worth the wait. When Tom returned he interviewed each of us for an hour and a half, bringing out the best in the former principal and Vietnam veteran and the Lakota Vietnam veteran from the Rosebud reservation.

He also had me at ease, enjoying his skills as an interviewer. I was bursting in pride for my two veterans who so willingly gave of their time to once again support the Hot Springs VA. RJ remembered to thank all of the women...mothers, wives, children, grandparents of the veterans who had "put up with us on our return from the service."

Sylvester ended the hour with words in Lakota to all of the listeners. I don't know what he said, but his voice was filled with sincerity and I heard the words "Hot Springs VA" several times.

Looking back, both of these interviews were nothing to fear. In fact, they were thoroughly enjoyed, and I learned a great deal. What more can anyone ask?

Humor, Acceptance and Hope

Yesterday a new president was inaugerated as president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The ceremony was full of pageantry, solemnity and tradition, as well as an easy going, relaxed acceptance of its schedule and missed details.

The printed programs arrived part way through the ceremony, a person was incorrectly identified (much to the crowds enjoyment), everything proceeded ahead of schedule, to the dismay of the master of ceremonies, ("I will get fired for this", was his frequent comment) and a last minute unscheduled speaker or two took over the microphone.

The casual approach, mixed with the solemnity and traditional rituals, from the passing of the sacred pipe, the drumming, the elegant headdresses on the elders, the annointing of the new president with a feathered headress and all of the speakers who made notice of not only the newly elected officials, but also the retired ones, made for a comfortable and impressive ceremony.

I couldn't help comparing yesterday's inaugeration to our ceremonies....precise, dignified, on schedule and not unexpected. In spite of the fact that I am not of the Lakota culture, I thoroughly enjoyed the pageantry, as well as the "going with the flow" attitude.

What was most noteworthy was the utmost respect for the elderly, their traditions, and, in the midst of the poverty and despair among the people, the underlying and strong message of hope - hope for the future - hope for the generations to follow.

I can only imagine that over the years of suppression on the reservation, that the Lakota people are growing, in large fact to their humor, relaxed attitude and eternal hope and struggle for a better tomorrow.