Wreaths Across America ceremony held at the Shivwits Band of Paiute reservation

Glenn Rogers, Shivwits Band of Paiute lays a wreath on his uncle Crawford Snow’s grave, Shivwits Band of Paiute reservation, Utah, Dec. 18, 2021 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — An eagle soared above the Shivwits Band of Paiute reservation on Saturday. At the same time, the Wreaths Across America ceremony was held at their cemetery. According to an attendee, it was the first time eagles have appeared this winter.

Wreaths Across America at the Shivwits Band of Paiute cemetery, Dec. 18, 2021 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News

The program featured remarks from relatives of veterans, singing with the hand drum, raising the flag of the United States of America and placing remembrance wreaths on the graves.

“It’s hard to see them pass away when you know these veterans and what they have been through,” Glenn Rogers, Shivwits Band of Paiute member, said.

Rogers fired four gunshots towards the mountains before the raising of the American flag by Native American veterans.

A special flag song was sung in the Paiute language and accompanied by the hand drum.

“The shots represent the four directions and the four seasons. The four directions are what these veterans, that are laying in the ground, walk. They walk the four directions. The four seasons: fall, winter, spring and summer,” he said.

Rogers said his uncle, Crawford Snow, is also buried in the cemetery. Snow was killed in Vietnam on Mother’s Day.

“Can you believe how much heartache it brought to this whole reservation when he was killed on Mother’s Day?” Rogers said.

During the ceremony, a moment of silence was given to remember all fallen soldiers. Local high school cadet Lieutenant Colonel Shailynn Lamb explained the event.

“Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate the mission to remember the fallen. We honor those that serve and their families and to teach the next generation the value of freedom,” Lamb said. “We are gathered here today and at more than 2,700 similar sites across America to honor our veterans, the few who were so willing to give of themselves to defend their brothers and sisters and their country.”

Lamb also read a quote by President Ronald Reagan: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

Six members of the Daughters of the American Revolution assisted with the program.

“We believe that it’s important to honor especially our Native Americans because they were the first patriots for the country,” Susan Dransfield, second vice-region president of DAR Washington County, said.

Wreaths were carefully placed at each veteran’s headstone by airmen, tribe members and the public. Patriot Guard riders were on-site bearing American flags during the event.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved.

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