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TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 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 | April 14 Letters

In Loving Memory
Osiyo All:

I had heard about the tragic death of this young lady.

I am of Native American descent (Western Cherokee) and have a son a little older than Lori, so for me this is like the loss of one of my own children.

I hope that someone close to Lori's family will set up a fund for her children and communicate this to the major networks (of where to send donations). This fund could be used to send her two children to college.

Again, my family extends our deepest sorrows and sympathy to Lori's children and family.

Love and Respect

Candace and Jack Whinery
Claremore, Oklahoma

Strong Woman, Strong Warrior
When I first heard in the news about Lori Piestewa going to Iraq, I decided that I would pray for her because she was the first Native American woman I knew that was going to Iraq, so I was deeply saddened to hear about her death. But let it be known that her death was not in vain. I will continue to pray for her as she continues her journey and continue to pray for all the men and women out there. My deepest condolences to the family of Lori Piestewa and especially her two small children.

Alfreda Martinez, Taos Pueblo

Lori Made a Difference
To the Piestewa Family

Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of grief. Please know that my family and I were deeply saddened upon hearing the news of Lori. We feel that her actions of being a member of the United States military will not be in vain and her efforts have helped others become free. I know that this does not relieve the pain, but when future generations are taught about this major historical event she will be remembered. There are not many people in this world that can say they have made a difference, Lori is one of them! We support our troops.

Love always,

The Moore's
Sugar Land, Texas

In Time of Loss
When one loses a child, there is always an ache in your heart and soul. I did not personally know your gentle, brave daughter but as a parent, I also deeply felt your loss and cried for you both. I want to express my deepest condolence but am lost for words. The poem below says it best. It was given to me when I lost my son.

IN TIME OF LOSS

Lonely is the home without you,
Life to us is not the same;
All the world would be like heaven,
If we could have you back again.

A light is from our household gone,
A voice we loved is still,
A place is vacant in our home
That never can be filled.

May the God of Love and Mercy,
Care for our loved one who is gone,
And bless with consolation,
those left to carry on.

The happy hours we once enjoyed,
How sweet their memory still
But death has left a vacant place,
This world can never fill.

How dearly we loved you,
And prayed you might live
But Jesus just beckoned,
And we had to give.

God gave us strength to bear it,
And courage to fight the blow,
What it has meant to lose you,
God alone will ever know.

Marlene

Daughter of our Hearts
May I offer my condolences on behalf of myself and my family for your loss.

Lori truly embodied what is wonderful, strong and good about being a woman. Although it is hard to look upon her as a woman since I have a daughter the same age and they are always your little girl, no matter that they are mothers themselves.

Please know that mothers all over the country are holding their daughters a little tighter in honor of the little girl who grew up to be a lovely young woman, a mother, a warrior, a daughter of our hearts.

As a mother, I know that no words can truly give you comfort but know that she is never any further than your heart. She lives on there, filling you with her comforting warmth, how could she not with that beautiful warm smile she had? I will remember that smile and the woman with pride and respect.

Jeannette Wall

Lori Made a Stand
Dear Family: My prayers are for you and your family. The loss that you suffer, it effects the whole native pride of all our people. I know this is our land. Lori knew it too. She is a very brave warriorette. She made her stand for all our people. Only God chooses his best to make a change for our people. And this was the biggest ever in our time in Native History. We salute You Lori for your bravery and for your sacrificies. God be with the family. And for your loss, their will always be a blessing for your family. Lori was a great loss, but God will truly bless you and your family.

Sincerely,

Debbie Jean Charles

Lady Warrior Soars
Hello, I have been deeply touched and moved by Lori, your daughter. This poem came to me and I thought it would only be appropriate to share with her family.

Your family is in my heart and prayers every day.

Alorha Baga

LADY WARRIOR SOARS

High upon a mesa a Lady Warrior Soars
Proudly answering a call to duty
Leaving two beautiful children behind
For the name of freedom of her people, Indian Country, U.S. and those across the seas
A Lady Warrior Soars.

One could never imagine what that dreadful day had in store
Splashing on her war paint she fought as she never fought before
Protecting herself and comrades to the end
A Lady Warrior Soars.

The news spread through Indian Country on a cold spring wind
We heard the cries of the Piestewa family; tearfully proud of their girl
We embraced them in our hearts and mourn with them
Honored by this Hopi Woman; mother, sister, daughter and friend.
We honor Lori Piestewa
Our Lady Warrior Soars.

© Alorha Baga, Sicangu Lakota/South Ute

Deepest Condolences
My name is Bill Blake and I am from the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe Indians! I want to express my deepest condolences to the Lori Piestewa family and let you know that my thoughts and my prayers are with you and your family. In addition, I want you to know how proud I am of Lori and of her service to our country. Take care and may God bless and look out for you during this difficult time.

Bill Blake

From a Fellow Soldier
To the family of Lori Piestewa,

My name is Marnelle Big Crow, I am an Oglala Sioux female from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. I have been serving in the Army for three years. I know nothing that i could say would bring back your daughter. But I would like to tell you that, for me being in the Army is something that I love to do. I have lived with predjudice all my life. until i came into the Army. This is a place where there is no prejudice. It is a place where they love you, for being Native American. We are such a rarity in the armed forces. I have found someplace where I belong. I never knew Lori. But when I heard of her death I cried for the loss of a Native American. In my hearts we are still one nation. I love my people as much as I love my country. I would give my life for either one. I want to you to know your daughter did not die in vain. Because of the efforts of my fellow soldiers, the world will be safer place for our children to grow up. I will be going to Iraq within the next couple of weeks. Lori and her family will be in my heart.

Spc. Big Crow, Marnelle U.S Army

States Apart Share Sorrow
For Lori's children and family I was deeply saddened by the news of Lori's passing. We were at our high school's annual pow wow when an annoucement was made that an individual requested an honor song for our brave fallen native warrior - Lori Piestewa. Although we are states apart, we here in Broken Bow, Oklahoma feel your loss and pain. Rest assured she will not be forgotten. I'm so proud of her, knowing what she endured and at the same time accomplished. I commend the Piestewa family for their ultimate sacrafice so that fellow Native Americans can live in freedom! We send our love so that you may have peace and happiness in Lori's tribute to America's fight for freedom!

Sincerely,

The Billy Family of Broken Bow, Oklahoma (Choctaw)

Love and Prayers
My love and prayers are sent to all of Lori`s family and friends. May she live on in all of your hearts for all time.

God Bless,

Jennie
Romsey Hampshire, UK.

Our Prayers
Hello, My Name Is Marcia Russell of the Ponca Tribe. We held Our All Nations Native American Pow Wow this weekend. We honored Lori. Here is a link to our Pow Wow Page I added Lori to it: http://www.geocities.com/allnationsnativeamerican/home.html?1045178151580 Click on her name.

We are very Proud of her. I receive alot of infomation about her as I do the web page for the All Nations. Thank you And God Bless you and your Family!

From the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes
On behalf of the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, our prayers for your family are sent, through our Native American Church, Sweat Lodges, Sun Dance Lodges and individual prayers. At a very young age, we were taught the role of a woman was held in the highest regards within our traditional ceremonies. No ceremonies could be complete without the woman who brought life into this world and completed the circle of life. Your beautiful daughter, mother and sister has completed her circle of life and has left us all the more blessed, because she touched our lives with her beauty and ultimate scrafice of life. May (Maheo) God, bless you and keep you.

Ida Elaine Hoffman, Business Manager
Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of OK

A Hero, A Warrior
I would like to send the family and friends of Lori Ann Piestewa gratitude, love and prayers. I now have a hero, warrior. She will not be foregoten in my heart.

Love , Kandi J. Howard Gila River Indian Community, Arizona