Cemetery Experience

Driving across New Mexico on our return trip from a wonderful event at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles last week, my mother and I were struck by the scene of the cemetery at Naschitti. Half way between Gallup and Shiprock, it sits on the open space, surrounded by sagebrush and sparse vegetation. In the distance, the landscape faded away into blue sky and dozens of American flags waved above the quiet scene.
It was a striking sight and a tribute to the Navajo people who had served in our military.
Last year, we attended the 50th marriage anniversary of Marie and Matthew Begay. As part of the festivities, they introduced a nephew who had just returned from Iraq. He said a few words and asked the Veterans in the crowd of over 200 Navajo people to stand. Old men with weathered faces, middle aged men and women and young people stood. It was a large and proud group.
A woman stood up in the crowd, dressed in the traditional velvet top and skirt, and sang the National Anthem in Navajo. It was a moment of pride and unity and it brought tears to my eyes.
Native Americans make up the highest percentage of our nation's armed forces per capita than any other ethnic group in America. From the time of the Revolutionary War, they have volunteered. During World War I, over 12,000 Native people served in the armed forces. And they weren't considered citizens until 1924.
In WWII, out of a population of 350,000 Native Americans, 44,000 served. Another 40,000 worked in war industries.
During Vietnam, 42,000 Natives fought in the jungles of Southeast Asia. And ninety percent of them were volunteers. There are nearly 200,000 American Indian veterans in the United States.
As we drove past the cemetery, with the flags proudly waving, it made me think of a people that were proud to be Americans and to remember the sacrifices they had made even though, in so many cases, they had never had the American dream that so many of us take for granted.
We wanted to share that with you and to thank you for your support of Native American arts. It is a vehicle that has given many Navajo, and other Native peoples, and their families, a better life.

Jackson Clark