People gathered for the sunrise ceremony prior to taking part in a '49 and breakfast. (Roselynn Wahtomy photo)

Veterans breakfast honors U.S. warriors

By Roselynn Wahtomy
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL – The sun peaked through the clouds as the smell of home cooked breakfast filled the crisp fall air.
It mixed with the scent of cedar that escaped the burning charcoal. Nearly 50 people gathered at the north end of the Tribal Business Center lawn to honor veterans with more coming as the morning wore on to participate in the Osborne family sponsored breakfast on Wednesday, November 11.
Hobby Hevewah led the spiritual ceremony asking the Creator to bless the men and woman of the U.S. Armed Forces. He acknowledged the sacrifice each of them made for the rights of American people. He remembered ancestral warriors, fallen warriors and those currently stationed in battle. He reached out to the veterans families, the mothers and fathers who lost their children because of war.
Arnold Appeney, Fort Hall Veterans Association president, welcomed the people and said the organization is working to get recognized with the state in hopes of securing more appropriations to get help for local veterans.
Appeney continued to say that it’s often hard for a veteran to talk about the experiences they came from and thanked the crowd who showed up to support them.
With that Hevewah said it’s important for veterans to have someone they can talk to. “It’s good medicine,” he stated.
Hevewah asked the people to take care of the veterans who are sent to war by praying for them and having ceremonies and continuing to welcome them home when they return. He asked the crowd to think of the veterans who came home wounded physically and mentally. “With this cedar, it will help them,” said Hevewah who threw more cedar on the ashes as Snookins Honena said a prayer for the breakfast and the Spring Creek drum group began to sing.
Tribal elder and veteran, Merle Tendoy, said the veterans need more support from the community by being more hospitable and grateful.
“It’s just a matter of saying ‘hello’ or ‘good morning’ or ‘thank you’,” he said. “We need more. People should be lined up all around the building.”
Tendoy also included that he would like to see something more done with the Veterans Memorial Park.
An honor song was sung as veterans lined up to smudge themselves. They shook hands and smiled at one another. Behind them were their families and those who lent their support.
Afterwards, everyone moved into the dome room where a ’49 took place. Following was a full breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes, hash browns, toast and bananas. An open mic gave opportunity for speakers to express themselves. The Fort Hall Veterans Organization gave individual recognition and Vivian Wahtomy gifted veterans with cedar bags.
The Osborne family has done this for a number of years considering it a collaborative event that they enjoy sharing with the veterans and the community.

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Annual Winter Craft Fair is on
December 11 & 12, 2009
at Sho-Ban School in Fort Hall, Idaho
Friday hours are 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Satruday hours are 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
For Unique and handmade items please visit us. Traditional Indian arts and crafts, Indian Tacos, baked goods and Christmas treats. There will be a variety of artists, crafters and beadworkers.
For more information call Leah Hardy at (208) 238-3353,
or Raylene Smith at (208) 637-2936