History of the Lakota Military Warrior
From the beginning of WWI Lakota warriors have served in the military of the United States of America. Some answered the call because of their patriotism to the United States, some for economic reasons, some out of the warrior instinct to protect and to provide, whatever the reason many served and some died in battle. This service to America came before Native Americans were even considered citizens of the United States.
In 1914 at the start of WWI the Oglala Lakota warriors joined the military service and went off to war. Many were wounded and some died and were buried in cemeteries across the nation and some were even buried in foreign nations. The Indian Citizenship Act, passed in 1924, finally gave the indigenous peoples of the United States the right to vote but not all states granted it.
When WWII began and the United States and the tribes declared war on Germany the Lakota warriors again joined the military services and again went to war. “The Lakota Code Talkers” was established in WWII for secret communications on the battlefield and helped the allies defeat the enemy. Some Lakota soldiers were fallen warriors to that war and again some were buried on foreign soil, some were buried in US cemeteries in national, religious or community cemeteries across the nation. This was also the first time females were allowed to join the military and some Lakota women became WWII veterans.
In 1950 the Korean War came and Lakota warriors went off to war again. Again there were war causalities and many died and were buried in National Cemeteries across the United States. Alcohol prohibition laws continued on Native Americans and no Indian could buy alcohol anywhere in the United States until 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower repealed the Indian prohibition laws country-wide. Indian reservations, however, remained dry unless they opted to permit the possession and sale of alcohol on the reservation.
The right for a Native Americans to vote in state and national elections wasn’t fully granted in all states until 1957.
The United States became involved in the controversial war in Vietnam 1967-1973. Lakota were both drafted and others enlisted. Soldiers would be in the jungle in Vietnam one day and home the next. The Lakota served with pride and again some were killed in the war.
In 1990 the Persian Gulf War began and again in 2003 Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and once again the Lakota men and women joined arms and some are still engaged in these conflicts.
There are also Lakota men and women that served honorable in the military during peace time and some that were not in war theaters and are honorable military.
The Oglala Sioux Tribe Lakota Freedom Veteran’s Cemetery provides a lasting memorial to accommodate our deceased veterans that is worthy of the sacrifices the have given the nation.
The Lakota Freedom Veterans Cemetery
The Veteran’s Administration announced an RFP in the Federal Register for their new initiative for Tribes to receive financial assistance for the construction of cemeteries for veterans. The VA initiative is to provide a veterans cemetery to be within 75 miles of least 90% of all veterans.
Joseph Rosales, Council Representative from Medicine Root, Myron Pourier, 5th Member for the Tribe, and Jacki Big Crow, Executive Secretary for 5th member, collaborated in the planning of a cemetery. Tom Allen was contracted to write the proposal, Rod Clark was hired as the construction manager.
Proposal submitted………….……………June 15, 2009
Proposal denied…………………..…. October 13, 2009
Resubmitted………………..….……….. March 15, 2010
Notified to finalize……….…........... October 4, 2010
Accepted to provide details…... October 12, 2010
Design and bidding………….…………….. July 15, 2011
Grant awarded.….$6M……..... September 30, 2011
Dedication…………………….……………..….. July 9, 2014
1st burial Eugene Long Soldier…...August 22, 2014
3 staff first day………..……………September 15, 2014
Lakota Freedom Veteran’s Cemetery consists 120 acres that were given by the Oglala Sioux Tribe for the purpose of a cemetery and to be the permanent site of the Lakota Freedom Veteran’s Cemetery. Presently the cemetery has 360 crypts placed ready for burial and a site for 40 cremation urn burials. There are expansion plans on the grounds that could accommodate an additional 90 years.
