Apsaalooke (Crow) honor Tomb of Unknown 100 years later
Category: News & Politics
Via: kavika • 3 years ago • 19 commentsBy: Jourdan Bennett-Begaye (Indian Country Today)
Chief Plenty Coup at the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 100 years ago.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Chief Plenty Coups descendants and Crow Nation representatives were the first to lay down flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in approximately a century
Chief Plenty Coups Honor Guard, all descendants of Chief Plenty Coups, waiting for smudging and the public flower ceremonies to begin at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration in Arlington, Virginia, on November 9, 2021. (Photo by Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, Indian Country Today)
Chief Plenty Coups descendants and Crow Nation representatives were the first to lay down flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in approximately a century
Jourdan Bennett-Begaye
Indian Country Today
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Virginia — The mid-Atlantic air is in the crisp 40s at 7 a.m. Dew sits on cars and the cool air is refreshing to the lungs. The grass, white steps and walkway to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier sparkle when the golden sunrise hits them.
It's quiet at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Plaza. The public and press can only whisper.
One by one, eight members of the Chief Plenty Coups Honor Guard from Pryor, Montana, placed a flower down in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and saluted the unknowns Tuesday morning. The eight members are descendants of Chief Plenty Coups.
Dozens more Crow Nation representatives, including students from Plenty Coups High School, follow suit. Jingling from the regalia can only be heard in the silence as they line up to lay down a flower.
Crow Nation citizens and representatives wait to lay down flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration in Arlington, Virginia, on November 9, 2021. (Photo by Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, Indian Country Today)
It's the first time in 96 years the public and visitors are allowed to approach the Tomb in the plaza. It's a privilege only given to the sentinels of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, "The Old Guard," according to the Arlington Cemetery.
The flower ceremony kicked off a two-day event of the centennial commemoration.
The dedication to the Tomb took place on Nov. 11, 1921, according to the National Archives. "The Tomb is the final resting place for America's unknown soldiers of war from World War I, World War II, and Korean War."
Before the flower ceremony, a member of the Chief Plenty Coups Honor Guard smudged and opened the event.
"One hundred years ago today, Chief Plenty Coups stood on this very ground we are standing on at the dedication ceremony of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1921," said a descendant of Chief Plenty Coup. "We, the Apsaalooke, also known as the Crow, the Crow people are here to respect and honor the bravery of men and women who gave their life for freedom. We continue the legacy of Chief Plenty Coups' commitment to the United States of America in culture, strength, and language of the Crow people."
President Warren G. Harding and the U.S. War Department invited Crow Chief Plenty Coups to say a few words at the 1921 dedication, said Elsworth GoesAhead, Crow and post commander in the Chief Plenty Coups Honor Guard, on ICT's newscast.
Chief Plenty Coups Honor Guard, all descendants of Chief Plenty Coups, waiting for smudging and the public flower ceremonies to begin at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration in Arlington, Virginia, on November 9, 2021. (Photo by Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, Indian Country Today)
Crow Nation citizens and representatives, including students from Plenty Coups High School, are the first to lay down flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration in Arlington, Virginia, on November 9, 2021. (Photo by Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, Indian Country Today)
Crow Nation citizens and representatives, including students from Plenty Coups High School, are the first to lay down flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration in Arlington, Virginia, on November 9, 2021. (Photo by Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, Indian Country Today)
Crow Nation citizens and representatives are the first to lay down flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration in Arlington, Virginia, on November 9, 2021. (Photo by Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, Indian Country Today)
Chief Plenty Coups represented all tribal nations during this time and was one of the few to speak at the dedication. After giving a prayer, he left his war bonnet and coup stick on the tomb as a gift, GoesAhead said. Those now lay in the Arlington National Cemetery artifact collection and are on exhibit in the Memorial Amphitheater Display room, according to the Arlington National Cemetery.
GoesAhead is also a descendent of Chief Plenty Coups and sees him as an "influential leader."
"And so being the statesman that he was, he worked really hard to have a relationship with the United States government and tracing his footsteps and his legacy back to Arlington, it's really difficult for me to wrap my head around that, the magnitude and the meaning of this event," GoesAhead said.
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The last of the Crow War Chiefs, Chief Joe Medicine Crow would be proud.
fitting that descendants of the greatest light cavalry ever borne from this continent were the first to honor the fallen.
Semper Fi Chief Joe Medicine Crow - OOooohhhhhrrraaaahhhhhh
Can't believe you'd intentionally, actually jump from a perfectly good airplane
Who said they were good?
The disappointment and relief.
Disappointment the "flight" was over,
relief that nothing was broken?
When can we do it again?
Chief Plenty Coups represented all tribal nations during this time and was one of the few to speak at the dedication. After giving a prayer, he left his war bonnet and coup stick on the tomb as a gift, GoesAhead said. Those now lay in the Arlington National Cemetery artifact collection and are on exhibit in the Memorial Amphitheater Display room, according to the Arlington National Cemetery.
*goose bumps*
What a powerful gift from a powerful man.
I can understand how overwhelming that moment would be for GoesAhead. A moment in history and he was part of it.
A profound moment displaying the great service American Indians have given to America's armed forces though peacetime and through many wars.
Happy Veterans Day.
Indeed it is JR.
I wish Hollywood would make a couple movies about Indian veterans and war heroes. I think such things would bring much needed positive publicity to American Indians and as a by product to their present day issues.
There was Windtalkers 20 years ago but there should be more.
A movie about Cpl. Mitchell Red Cloud, Medal of Honor recipient would be great. His life is something out of a movie, so a movie about him would be a great moment.
This is a piece of history that I didn't know. Thanks so much for bringing it to us.
It always amazes me the dedication Indians give to this country. Despite all that this nation has done to them, they put that all aside, and defend this country and I know they do so with an open heart!
Your welcome.
It is so great to be able to read a seed about famous Native Americans on the FP once again.
Thank you so very much for sharing this wonderful story, Kavika
Your welcome, Raven.