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MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2003

Ed. Note: Indianz.Com can be reached at indianz@indianz.com -- your e-mails will be sent to the Piestewa family. Cards and letters can be mailed to Percy Piestewa, P.O. Box 957, Tuba City, AZ 86045. Flower and other items can also be mailed, care of, to the Tuba City Unified School District, P.O. Box 67, Tuba City, AZ 86045. UPS or FedEx accepted at School District address.

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Soldiers and Friends
Please accept my condolences with Lori's passing. I wrote a poem about both Lori and her friend Jessica and I hope it conveys my respect for Lori, your family, and her friendship.

Sincerely, Jennifer Whent

Soldiers and Friends
One dead, one alive, both forever free,
Two women who've served us overseas.
Both are beloved, both soldiers true,
Both with hearts red, white, and blue.

Lori was Hopi, born last of four,
Mascot, softball star, and much, much, more.
Catholic, Commander of ROTC,
Daughter, sister, single mother, and free.

She left her children and those she held dear.
She righted her shoulders, she swallowed her fear.
She marched to her fate, her head held high.
She fought like a soldier and hence she died.

What more, than her life, can a soldier give?
She died as a soldier as she chose to live.
With strength, and dignity, and bravery too.
She gave her all for red, white, and blue.

Jessica and Lori had become fast friends,
Fated to come to different ends.
Their origins were similar, of humble means.
This strengthened their ties, their bond was keen.

Jessica, was nineteen, a beauty bright,
For a chance to teach she was willing to fight.
And fight she did to the bitter end,
Her courage laid bare, her friends to defend.

To die with them was not fated that day,
In her foe's keep she was swept away.
Her body was broken, bloodied, and torn,
But her courageous heart was American born.

Her strength to remain upon this earth,
Was miraculous, stupendous, a second birth.
Our hearts soared high, upon her return.
From her fierce tenacity we all could learn.

Never Forgotten
I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to the family of Lori. I had been praying for her daily, hoping that she would be found alive. I watched the news coverage closely for any information on her fate. My daughter woke me up yesterday to tell me that Lori had been confirmed dead. Needless to say I was very saddened. I immediately said a prayer for Lori's spirit and her family. I will continue to pray for her children, parents, and other family members. Lori will not be forgotten, to all Native Americans she is our HERO.

To her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Piestewa, I would like to say my heart goes out to you, I have shed tears for you and her children. My thoughts and prayers are with you and I will continue to pray for you in the future.

In the Spirit World
May the creator place a comforting hand upon your shoulders and give you the strength and courage you need at this time.

I send my deepest sympathy and condolences to Lori's family, she was a very brave lady. She is in the Spirit world now and will be happy and at peace but she will always be close to her family, a bond of love can never ever be broken whether we are in this world or the next.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Lori and her family and all the families of the American and British troops.

Christine Hewitt,
Burnley, England

Kiowa Tribe Sends Thoughts
Yesterday morning we held our annual meeting of the Kiowa Indian Council at our tribal complex in Carnegie, OK. Before we convened the KIC meeting, the Kiowa War Mothers organization read the names of all of our tribal members currently serving in the U.S. armed forces, which included many names of our young female tribal members. Following the reading of these names, the War Mothers requested a tribal elder to offer a special prayer for all these service men and women, and they requested that Lori Ann and her family be included in this tribute. It is with heavy hearts that we send these condolences to you, the familly of Lori Ann, her friends and neighbors, and the Hopi Tribe. The thoughts and prayers of the Kiowa Tribe will remain with you throughout this trying time, and beyond.

Sherman Finding Peace
My deepest heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of Lori Piestewa. I prayed every day for her safe return. May her soul find peace and may her family find comfort in that she is now with the Great Spirit.

Naomi Waynee
Saginaw Chippewa
Phoenix, AZ USA

A True Hero
To Lori Piestewa Children & Family: I first would like to let you know that my family and I are keeping Lori's Family in our prayers and thoughts. I lived in Phoenix and had some friends and schoolmates from Tuba City, AZ. When I first heard of Lori as MIA, I was glued to the tv. My 2 year old daughter and I prayed for Lori and her entire family at this difficult time. I believe it hits hard with us, mothers who have young children. I will keep her two children in my daily prayers. You have an incredibly brave daughter who believed in her Native People and in America. It takes a person alot to give to her country so she could be a role model for her children. And especially when it involves giving her life for the safety of her children. I am older than Lori but she is my role model, and I thank you Mr. & Mrs. Piestewa for instilling that into a wonderful person who is also your daughter. I am a Athabascan /Lakota Indian and we in Indian Nations are proud to have had Lori represent the American Indians in this war of freedom.

My prayers are with your entire family.

Bonney Blackwolf - Ahmama

A Precious Woman
Dear Family of Lori:

Please know how deeply saddened we are in our village here in California to learn of the loss of your beloved daughter. Although I am not a member of a tribal community, I am a mother and I cannot even conceive of what you must be going through. My heart and prayers go to you and to the families of the others who have lost their lives in this war. Prayers here are also being offered for the Grandmother who will care for her children, for her brother, for her grieving community, and for our country and the world - because we have lost yet another precious member of the Hopi Nation. May we all live to see the day we can live in peace and justice together.

With deepest condolences,
Myan Baker
Bolinas, California

Sympathy for Family
My heart goes out to all of you, please accept my most profound sympathy. Just know that Lori has gone to a better place, is at peace and you will all meet again one day.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Sincerely,
Lynne Smith

Prayers
Hello, I am so proud of your daughter, she has represented us well and I am praying for your family to help ease your suffering, Creator has take a wonderful person but has left us a legacy for our children to look up to and to be proud of. Please know that we as Native People are with your family. Thank you for sharing her with us.

Ah-Ho,

Andulia S. WhiteElk
Northern Ute/Apache

A Letter to Lori Piestewa

Dear Lori,

On the day of your Birth i,imagine there was a Celebration! Happiness abounded throughout the Native, Nation-for many knew you.

I, imagine as a Young child,you gave your Family and Friends much Occasion for Joy and Laughter.

As a young Woman. Determined, Proud and Strong. You would strive too share yourself with so many more in the "Good Fight" that you believed in.

As a Brave, Young, Soldier you Sacrificed your very all for Freedom. Freedom, for those who you did not know but, wanted to help reach their Dream's of Peace.

In this, your Untimely Death,we Celebrate your Life again and Thank You for Touching Ours. You will Never be Forgotten.

We Stand with our Beloved "Hopi" families in Prayer and Thank's for their Ultimate Sacrifice for us All.

All the Many Native, Tribal People - Sisters and Brothers of -
ONEOFMANYFEATHERS Community Group. MSN
BlackOwl Community Group. MSN

From the Metis Nation
Dear Lori's Family,

Please accept my deepest condolences and prayers for your daughter, Lori, and her two young children. Friday night we honored all of our troops with special prayers for Lori in our inipi ceremony. Little did we know that Takashila had taken her home to the spirit world.

Lori was a true warrior giving her life so that complete strangers in another country might be freed and their children able to run and play. I know one day her children will know what a great hero their mother was. She will always be with them in spirit.

Vice-Chief Grey Wolf Howling
Prairie Eagle Band of the Great Plains Manitoba Metis Nation

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