Why Are There So Many Songs and Ceremonies Honoring Veterans At the Powwow?
In a modern society that often doesn’t seem to pay much attention to veterans, the honor accorded to veterans at the Powwow celebration can take one by surprise. Veterans are asked to be flag bearers, called upon to retrieve dropped Eagle feathers and honored in a multitude of Veteran’s Songs. The respect shown to veterans is an integral part of the American Indian culture, a tradition from times when the welfare of a village depended on the quantity and quality of the fighting men. To be a warrior was a man’s purpose in life, and the best death a man could make was to fall defending the tribe. To American Indians, the good of all outweighed the good of the one, and veterans were honored because they were willing to give their lives so the people could live. The veterans of today are accorded the same honor and respect as the warriors of the past, and in the tribes, bravery is still honored as one of the four virtues: bravery, generosity, wisdom, and fortitude. – Information from “Gath
