"I am an American Veteran. I also am a Native American and was proud to serve my country in its time of need. I served in Southeast Asia (Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia), Central America (Grenada, Panama, Columbia, and Peru) and in the Middle East (Desert Shield and Storm.) I also served in a lot of places that the public will never hear of or even know that we were actively involved in. That was part of my job. During the time I served in the military, I developed a lot of friendships that were cut short due to the loss of those friends in operations around the world. Veterans Day is the holiday set aside to honor those men and women who served and to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. I say our freedom because I enjoy the same freedoms today as a veteran as does everyone else in this country.

It is time for those of us who wore a uniform, whether it is green, blue, or khaki to come together again and fight this battle for ourselves and our people. Not as individual nations or tribes, but as one brotherhood of Veterans. This is the greatest tribute we can give to our fallen brothers, sisters, fathers, and grandfathers. This is especially true now with our sons and daughters fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is my Veterans Day celebration, and I wouldn�t have it any other way."

Get the Story:
Thomas Berry: Veterans Day from a Native perspective (The Native American Times 11/7)

Relevant Links:
National Native American Veterans Association - http://www.nnava.org