Comanche Indian Veterans Association Hosts Armed Forces Day Banquet
On Saturday, May 18, the Comanche Indian Veterans Association (CIVA) held an Armed Forces Day banquet at Watchetaker Hall for veterans.
Three veterans were recognized at the banquet, including Specialist 4th class Michelle Bobelu and Earnest Tate Jr. and Mineman Senior Chief Petty Officer Donald Peterson.
Comanche Nation Jr. Princess Arlene Schonchin also crowned the new CIVA Princess Clara Tee-Ohms Yazzie.
Comanche Nation Chairman Mark Woommavovah was the keynote speaker and was also honored for his work in the military.
CIVA Commander Roger Tehauno said Armed Forces Day is important for active duty members and to remember them.
“My dad was a veteran, and he was, you know, active duty, heard a lot of things about what he did,” he said. “But you look at today, you know, and remember what my dad said about these soldiers are the ones that keep us free. You know, they go over there, they don't fight in our country, they fight in other countries to keep all that, you know, tyranny and evil out of our country.”
Tehauno said the day also recognizes those currently overseas.
“We have a member whose name is Kent, or he's a Major Kent Tomah. He's on duty overseas in the war zone over there, and we can, we worried about him, you know, and think about him,” he said. “And that's one of the main reasons of doing, you know, the Armed Forces Day.”
But the day is also to honor the ones who have served.
“They've already been through it, you know; they know what it means and what it feels like, you know, being away from home, loneliness, you know, protecting our country,” Tehauno said. “In our day, we couldn't just get sick and go home, you know, we had to be there, you know, even when we was overseas, you know, for a year; we couldn't go home. If we had a family problem, you know, it had to work itself out. We couldn't take off to go home, you know, and it's just remembering our soldiers, you know, that they go through all this, you know, and at one time, we had some active duty members that were participating, you know, in some of our ceremonies, you know, doing posting of the flags and color guards or what have you, you know, they enjoyed it, we enjoyed having them with us.”
He said there have been advances in military personnel.
“I enjoy what we're doing. Think about, you know, all the advances that our military has made, you know, the soldiers, you know, they get paid more than we did,” Tehauno said. “Because I remember my first check, when I got it for two weeks, I think it was $16. That was no, no, no telling how much they make today, but they do a lot better than we did. But yeah, it's just thinking about, you know, when I was in and the other guys at my age that was in and, and the ones that go in today, you know, they're, they're more educated, they're more smart.I'm not saying we weren't smart, you know; we just went in at a younger age and more or less like just young guys when we went in, you know, and then come out as men.”
He also wanted to recognize the CIVA auxiliary.
“They do a lot, you know, and they donate a lot of their time,” Tehauno said. “We don't get paid for what we do. You know, we have to keep up our dress, their dress, you know, and they do, we listen to them quite a bit, you know, they have some good ideas, you know, that make it work. It's just like today, my first time doing this and, you know, they pulled through and, and did what they're supposed to do. But that's what I, I would like to talk about is just them. I mean, how, how much they mean to us and, and what all they do for us. And they don't complain, you know, they just help us out.”
