Photos courtesy of veterans committee
THE LARGEST GROUP OF PUYALLUP TRIBAL VETERANS ATTENDED THE ANNUAL IRA HAYES PARADE THIS YEAR. From left to right: Joe James, Ed Sibbits, Sarah Sibbits, Rodney Sisson, Clarence Tougaw, Ron Simchen, Milton Guenther and Michael Sisson.
A group of 11 Puyallup Tribal veterans traveled to Sacaton, Ariz. to honor one of the most well-known American Indian veterans, Ira Hayes.
This is the largest group yet that has made the trip from Puyallup to the Ira Hayes parade, one of the largest annual gatherings of American Indian veterans in the country.
World War II veteran Stann Sicade, Jr., and veterans Leonard Ferro, Joe James, Ron Simchen, Michael Sisson, Rodney Sisson, Ed Sibbits, Patrick Henry, Tommy Bean, Milton Guenther and Clarence Tougaw attended the annual event commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Iwo Jima flag raising celebration. The event took place on the Gila River Indian Reservation from Feb. 18-22. Ed Sibbits’ daughter, Private First Class Sarah Sibbits who is currently stationed in Arizona, was also able to attend the event.
Ira Hayes has become an icon for American Indian veterans throughout the country.
The Pima Indian Marine Corps para-trooper became famous because he was one of six soldiers featured in one of the most famous World War II photographs of all time, “The Flag Raising of Iwo Jima.”
Ira Hayes survived his call of duty with only two others featured in the photo, Rene Gagnon and John Bradley. Ira Hayes drew particular attention from the media and public because he was American Indian.
The event, which draws crowds of hundreds of Native and Non-native attendees each year, included a banquet and pow-wow Feb. 19 and the main event on Feb. 20 was a parade with military flyover, massing of colors, flag raising POW/MIA service, wreath-laying ceremonies, closing with a gourd dance and pow-wow.
