Exciting Year for the Delaware War Mothers

The Delaware War Mothers would like to extend their gratitude for all the support received from the tribal council, veterans, and tribal members. 2013 has been a rough year for membership but with the determination of its members 2014 should be even more exciting! Currently six different tribes are represented among the 25 members both locally and afar.

Hayden Griffith was elected princess for 2013 and 2014, and has represented the club well this year. She has participated in grand entries at powwows, NCAI in Tulsa, parades, veteran programs, and read to the Dewey first grade in recognition of the Oklahoma birthday celebration dressed in her regalia! This young lady is sure to do wonderful things in her lifetime and the members can’t wait to see her represent the club again in 2014. Thank you Hayden for a job well done!

This year the War Mothers participated in the grand entry at the Operation Eagle Powwow, Delaware Powwow, and Oklahoma Indian Summer. On July 5 the club held a Veterans Recognition program after lunch at the Delaware Community Center. Each veteran was recognized and presented with a keychain. In September the club sponsored a Turtle Toss during Delaware Days for the children and plan on making this a yearly event. A table was provided by the tribe during General Council for a bake sale, silent auction and raffle which brought in some much-needed funds to help the club support our veterans. On November 8 a Veterans Day program was held prior to lunch being served. Each veteran was recognized and presented with a veterans pin. Bucky Buck, veteran, and Bonnie Thaxton, mother of veteran, were the speakers for this year’s program. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) also participated in the program with a small ceremony for the POW’s and MIA’s.

Our mission is to represent and honor our military relatives, so if you are a grandmother, mother, daughter, granddaughter, sister or aunt of a veteran Native American OR non-native but want to represent an Indian veteran and would be interested in joining, please attend one of our monthly meetings the third Monday of each month at 5:00 pm in the Dining Hall at the Delaware Community Center. You may also contact Bess Marler at 918-440-1955, Tonya Anna at 918-533-8035 or email the club at delawarewarmothers@yahoo.com.

Again, thank you to all who contributed to and supported the Delaware War Mothers over this past year and most of all, thank you to each and every veteran for your service.

Veterans at Veteran’s Day celebration in Delaware Community Center on November 8, 2013	Delaware War Mothers fill Christmas “goodie bags” for our veterans. L-R, Barbara Wallace, Laura Maynor, Tonya Anna, Mary Watters, Pat Donnell, Cy Hughes, Chief Paula Pechonick.