Past & present service members honored at annual Veterans Day Breakfast
Claudeo Broncho speaks during the sunrise ceremony on November 11.
By BREE BAKER
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — On Monday, November 11, the Annual Veterans Day Breakfast was conducted at Shoshone-Bannock Jr./Sr. High School — an event the Osborne families, extended families and friends have been sponsoring for over 30 years.
The morning started with a sunrise ceremony and smudge, then traditional 49 songs were sung, Ghost Canyon sang while the colors were posted, then breakfast was served, and after the meal three veterans, JJ Wadsworth, Juan Broncho, and Frances Goli were honored.
During the sunrise ceremony, prayers were said, good words were shared, and everyone smudged. Veteran Darrell Shay gave a brief history sharing how Native American people became citizens 100 years ago but were already serving their country before then, “A lot of our returning veterans from World War I tried to get veterans benefits, and they couldn’t get it.” They were told by the veterans agency, who said “no you can’t get it because you’re not citizens.” In 1919, the United States Congress granted citizenship to Native American veterans. Shay says, “I think they were embarrassed, because our people served, and we served with honor.”
Frances Goli was presented a shawl with the U.S. Navy emblem.
Veteran Claudeo Broncho said “we are blessed today in a good way, all of us, all our families.” Following that statement, veterans and attendees went and smudged. After smudging everyone headed into the gymnasium.
Broncho talked about how his family has been putting on the breakfast for over 30 years, he says “It’s not a powwow, it’s not a place where you’re obligated to be, you just come here to eat. To talk, talk about war times, talk about peace times, where you were stationed, and time in the service.” He also mentioned how Native Americans were not U.S. citizens until 1924, but Native people have been fighting for United States long before then, noting the Indian Scouts. He mentioned Fort Hall is one of the first Purple Heart Reservations to be recognized in Indian Country. And he encouraged everyone to talk to each other and he wants the younger ones to listen and learn because “you’re going to be the ones carrying on these types of things for all of us.” He encouraged everyone to pray, noting how you can just pray in your mind, to pray for your people.
Traditional Shoshone-Bannock 49 songs were sung, the singers and backup singers went around the gymnasium and sang different songs. Everyone was encouraged to join in, by the last song the group of singers had grown quite large.
After the songs were sung, Chairman Lee Juan Tendoy gave a welcome in the Shoshone language and spoke about veterans but mentioned how he did not want to take up too much time in respect for the veterans because this is their day.
Jesse James “JJ” Wadsworth at the breakfast.
Former FHBC Chairman Nathan Small shared a few words before Miss Shoshone-Bannock Dystnee Rope welcomed the veterans and attendees to the breakfast. The four veterans carried in the colors, while Ghost Canyon sang. Breakfast was then served by the family and Sho-Ban high school students. There was more than enough to go around, breakfast included variety of food and beverages such as eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, hashbrowns, pancakes, fruits and coffee and juice. After the meal door prizes were given out to Veterans in attendance, including gift bags filled with various items some including hats, gloves, mugs, towels, and snacks. Then the Veterans were called to the front to be given a gift, Claudeo Broncho handed each veteran a coin. On one side it has soldiers in front of the American flag with the words “Honoring All Who Served; a veteran is someone who wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America for an amount of up to and including their life” and the other side has the words “Thank you for your service” with an eagle in the middle with words integrity, loyalty, duty, respect, honor, courage, and service surrounding it.
Juan Broncho
Jesse James “JJ” Wadsworth, Juan Broncho, and Frances Goli were the veterans chosen to be honored. Family and friends gathered to take photos and celebrate their loved ones as they received their gifts. Wadsworth received a Pendleton vest with the U.S. Navy emblem on the back. Next was Broncho who received a jacket with a Vietnam Combat Veteran patch on the front and the U.S. Marine Corps emblem on the back. Then Frances Goli received a shawl with the U.S. Navy emblem on the back and she also received a beaded coin purse.
As the event concluded the veterans in attendance retired the colors, attendees were encouraged to get more food and some stayed behind to catch up with friends and family.
