Facebook Twitter Email
MONDAY, APRIL 14, 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.

Page 1 | April 7 Letters | April 8 Letters | April 9 Letters | April 10 Letters

She Came Home
i am deeply honored by the sacrifice your beautiful daughter and friend has made...i am cherokee and a sundancer under the lakota ways...it is people like lori that make me proud to be native american..her spirit is with you now as she came home in the snowfall and her ancestors have welcomed her with great pride and honor...she will live forever in all our hearts..she will be remembered this weekend in inipi ceremony as we will honor her again..AHO MITAKUYE OYASIN TOMMY CROWHAWK TENNESSEE CHEROKEE

My Heart is on the Ground
To the family of Lori Piestewa. I want to express my deepest heartfelt condolences to you. "My heart is on the ground," think it will stay there for awhile. The sacrifice this warrior made is so profound it cannot be expressed in just words. A great shadow has formed over indian country, and we must not forget what has happened. Her great Deeds will be spoken throughout indian country for many years to come. I'm so sad for you yet I'm proud as well. After all the great hardships Indian people have encountered in this country we still respond when asked to be warriors once again. Be proud of Lori, she will always be known as the first warrior to "go to the other side camp" for her people and her country. What a GREAT honor. A-HO!

Curtis

Warrior, Mother, Friend, Hero
On behalf of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in Belcourt, North Dakota, I would like to express our strongest comfort to the family of Lori, a great warrior, mother of two children, friend, a hero to all native people in Indian Country. The people of our community were saddened by the loss of your love one who fought a battle that only she can speak of. On the creator's hands, she is safe in his hands she will be a great spirit in Indian Country, she will protect us from evil of any kind we as a tribe will pray for Lori and family. Lori's memory will live forever In indian Country.

Respectfully,

Chairman Richard Monette
Councilmen Patrick Terry Baker, Troy Decoteau, Kevin Scotty Vondal, vice chair Leon Morin, Elmer Davis Jr, Stuart Medrude, Les LaFountain, Travis F .Davis
From Lilley Dionne, Legion Post 262
From all veterans from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa

Never Forgotten
Our deepest sympathy to Lori's children and her family and friends. She is a true HERO. I was glad that Jessica was found but I prayed they would ALL be found alive. It was not meant to be. Better things for them now.

I am glad Jessica survived and i know her family is grateful and yes, she is a HERO too, but it is time to put it to rest now and I am sure Lori must feel the same, knowing her comrades are gone. To me Lori and ALL the soldiers are Heroes. I mourn for her children most of all but know in your hearts they are and will be fine adults one day. Lori will never be forgotten and she will be remembered.

God Bless You

Nyla Johnson
Shelbyville, IN

Deepest Prayers
Dear Family and Friends,

Hello! I'm Fran, a proud SOM member. I'm sending you my deepest prayers and condolences on your loss. I've never met Lori, but she's a really brave American hero! Please remember to look back and think of all of the wonderful moments you've had throughout her life and how brave she was in Iraq!

Sincerely,

Frances (NJ)
SOM member

Freedom is not Free
In a small town of Isle, Minnesota in September of 1950, word was received that PFC Paul Moose was killed in action in Korea. He was survived by his parents Alex and Annie Moose, brothers - Basil, Robert and Fred, sisters - Helena and Brenda.

Paul is gone but not forgotten. He has been joined by my parents and three brothers. Sadly only my sister, Helena and I are left to grieve for him. Paul was killed on September 11, 1950 on the banks of the Tague River in Korea. It was August of 1951 before we could lay him to rest.

Please accept our condolences and sympathy in your grief.

Freedom is not free.

Brenda

Prayers
Our prayers are with all of you during this very unfortunate time.

Terri Bartels & family
Citizen of the Creek Nation in Oklahoma
& member of Springtown Indian United Methodist Church

She was (is) a HERO. Love & prayers Annette

Family of Lori Piestewa:

She will live in our Hearts
My heart overflows with gratitude to the brave men and women who have given their lives in Iraq. Lori is one of those soldiers to whom I owe more than I can ever pay back. Lori and our other fallen heroes will never be forgotten. They live in our hearts forever.

My heart is also broken by your pain. May God grant you, the family of Lori Piestewa, comfort and peace and surround you with his love.

Most sincerely,

Patti Robison Casper, Wyoming

Piestewa Family,

From Veterans
It is with great sadness and anguish on the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakotas we watched on CNN and learned of your great loss, Lori. Our hearts go out to you.

As veterans we grieve with you, but know that you are not alone. The creator will watch over you and your family. A card to follow in the mail.

Howard Longie, Commander
American Legion - Lilley Dionne Post
Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation
Belcourt, North Dakota

Warrior Daughter
On behalf of the Mehl family of Alva, FL, please accept our condolences on the loss of your dear Lori. The pictures that they show on TV are of a beautiful girl with a spectacular smile. I lost my husband 7 years ago when our son was not yet two years old. To this day, I see his father in his smile. I hope you can always see Lori in the smiles of her babies.

My great-grandmother was full blood Southern Band Cherokee so I understand and feel pride for your warrior daughter. May Maasaw lead your family and Lori's children through this sad time.

I found a website for the Hopi. It lists notable Hopi people. I think your Lori should be on that list.

In peace and sadness, Leslie Mehl snoopyfan68@aol.com

For Lori and Family
My prayers are with you and your children, there are no words to express, just that you will always be in my prayers.

Cheyenne River Lakota Support Circle

A Hero
Dear Family, I want you to know, like many others, how saddened I was to hear the news about your loved one. When I first saw the name, I knew immediately she had to be of Hopi descent. My heart went out to you all then and I prayed every day that she would be found. I know that there are no words that can be said at this time to take away your grief, but I do pray that God will grant you all the comfort and peace that you'll need in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead. If there is anything my family and I can do to help Lori's children, please let us know. I pray every day for the protection of all the great young men & women who have chosen to defend our value of freedom. Lori is our hero, too. p>

God Bless You All,

Lahoma (Hicks) Schultz

A Dash
To the Honorable Family of Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa and all those whom she loved so dearly,

I extend respect and sympathy to each of you.

It has been said that the most significant remembrances are recorded by a simple "dash." The "dash", the symbol, used to note life: the time between the date of one's first breath and one's last. Your Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa took a hold of life and challenged the world to consider and see a different perspective, not necessarily because she set out to do so-but, because of who she was and all of those whom she loved. Through that "dash" she earned the respect of many who never would have ever heard of her or gotten the opportunity to actually meet her. In the circle of life, she has succeeded in touching the world.

Lori Ann's "dash" that records precious memories of her for you, records her dedicated actions with honor for those, like me, who never met her. May your memories of her along with the acknowledgement that others recognize that she spent her "dash" well be of comfort to you now and always.

When it was announced that Pfc. Lori Ann was among those "missing", we all hoped and prayed that she been found healthy and safe. Count me among those praying for you: in this time of mourning & until the joy of her life eventually greets your heart daily without much pain.

Sincerely,

Sue Ellen Atkinson
Lancaster,CA

A Legacy for the Seven Generations
Our hearts are heavy with sorrow for the loss of your daughter, sister, granddaughter and mother. Little did you realize that whenever you said goodbye to your loved one that she would return a heroine, a hero, and a role model for many Indian nations. Your loved one has left quite a legacy for the next seven generations to come. Your loss has touched many hearts across our great nation and beyond. Through your memories, your loved one will live on forever more. May the Great Spirit and Giver of Life comfort you as you begin your healing process.

Al and Ella Colman Albuquerque, NM

Thank You
Lori,

We all thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your courage and commitment. You gave yourself to help save those in Iraq who could not help themselves. You have helped those of us at home in America to continue to be free and to fight for human rights. May God's blessings be upon you in heaven. You will be in my prayers as well as your family, for they too have paid a high price. I hope they know that your tragic loss of life has played a part in giving life to the oppressed of Iraq. You are nothing less than a hero.

Barry Lady Spirit Warrior
Lori's Family,

I wish to send you you my loving, respectful, and honorable thoughts at this time. Lori, Lady Spirit Warrior, has made a world notice that someone who seemingly is invisible can become visible in a magnificient manner of giving away that which is precious, one's life for all others. Lori, thank you, for being the person you have been. Your smiles fill the pictures with such brillance. Now, I know that your spirit is everywhere helping the world to become a better place for all. In my deepest respect, I am so proud to have lived to see and know one as good as you have been in this time. Humbly I thank you, my young, sister for being the wonderful person you came to be. Lori's family thank you for giving us such a wonderful young spirit warrior.

In Loving Peace,

Judith M. Castillo

Great Sacrifice
Dear Family

My name is Stephen P. Thomas - My heart and prayers go to you and friends of Lori. I know that many words have been said to you during this sad time for all of you. I want to have you know that we Natives and American Indians in Alaska honor and thank Lori and the other fallen for their great sacrifice.

I am Laguna/Pima and my wife is in Iraq as a Lt. Col. with the Marine Corps. We prayed for Lori and the rest when we first heard they were missing, my wife prayed and gave corn meal. I ask the Great Spirit to look after Lori’s children and family.

I will contribute to Lori’s children. Please accept my condolence.

A proud Native America family;

Mr.& Mrs. Stephen and Valerie Thomas, Juneau, Alaska

Honorable Role Model
Hello my name is Laura and I am 16 year old member of the Nothern Arapaho tribe, and I reside in Oklahoma. I just wanted to express my sympathy for Lori and her family. These days it seems hard to find a Honorable Role Model, but Lori exemplifies everything that I myself as a person want to become, she was a very Brave, Stong, and Courageous person. Finding words to even describe her seem impossible, because she is a True Modern Day Hero and Warrior. I'm usually not a very spritual person, but when I learned of this tradegy I found myself praying every day for her safe return, even though she has passed on I hope her rememberence stays strong among all people especially Native Americans. Her family continues to stay in my prayers.

Laura G.

The Long Walk
The long walk from your home to mine has been erased by the tragic death of Lori. I wish to add my condolences to your family with those of the many thousands of Americans who have already done so. My daily prayers will include thoughts of Lori and the asking of protection for our Native American soldiers who are still in harm's way.

Wayne J. Wood