Vets Serve

The Mohican Veterans are proud to have members from the US Army, US Marine Corps, US Navy, US Air Force, US Coast Guard, and US Merchant Marines. They are also very proud to have members that have served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm/Desert Shield, Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as all of our ancestors who fought for the United States of America in all wars including the Revolutionary War.

The Mohican Veterans were officially formed in 1997. They are active participants in the annual Mohican Veterans Pow-Wow, the community pow-wows at the Family Center, as well as surrounding area pow-wows.

The Mohican Veterans also take part in various community activities such as swearing in the New Tribal Council, Neighborhood Watch Walk, W'Chin'Din, the College of the Menominee Nation Graduation, annual parades in Gresham and Shawano, as well as many other community activities.

The Mohican Veterans are a very proud organization that strives to represent the Stockbridge Munsee Community. The Mohican Veterans represent the Community at various activities they attend as well as the work they perform. The Mohican Veterans want the Stockbridge-Munsee Community to remember the Veterans that have passed on or are still carrying on. To help represent and have the community remember there has been a Memorial set up on County Highway A in Bowler. The memorial is a wall with bricks that have the names of the soldiers that have passed on fighting for our country and the ones that continue to serve our country. The memorial was first dedicated to Veterans from the past and present on Veterans Day 2002.

This year there has been thirty-one new bricks added to the Memorial. Counting the current 3rd dedication the Veterans held on May 31, 2004 there are now 149 commemorative bricks on the memorial wall. The Mohican Veterans, as well as veterans from the surrounding communities, were in attendance. The ceremony, MC’ed by Robert Little, included an opening prayer by Rev. Josh Martin and a speech from President Bob Chicks. Chicks gave thanks to the veterans and those in attendance for the ceremony. He also stressed the importance of the day. The Ge Taa’se singers and Na Na Powe Singers were the drum groups bringing in the Veterans as well as playing the Veterans Song, Flag Song and Traveling Song. Doug Miller sang the National Anthem at the ceremony. Mohican Veteran and Council Member Gregg Duffek spoke about the importance of the day and remembering those who fought for the country and still do. Veteran Robert Jacobs also recited a poem he wrote. At the ceremony there was carnations sold that were placed beneath the stone of the veterans, family members wanted to honor.

The Ge Taa’se singers and Na Na Powe Singers were the drum groups bringing in the Veterans as well as playing the Veterans Song, Flag Song and Traveling Song. Doug Miller sang the National Anthem at the ceremony. Mohican Veteran and Council Member Gregg Duffek spoke about the importance of the day and remembering those who fought for the country and still do. Veteran Robert Jacobs also recited a poem he wrote. At the ceremony there was carnations sold that were placed beneath the stone of the veterans, family members wanted to honor.

On May 29th, 2004 some members of the Mohican Veterans were honored at a breakfast in the Shawano Community High School. The Veterans that were honored with a certificate are as follows: Clarence Chicks, Norrin "Joe" Cornelius, Aught Coyhis, Alfred "Al" Hill, Keith Hill, Virgil Murphy, Ernie Murphy, Ervin Tousey and Woodford "Garth" Tousey. Robert Little, Commander of the Mohican Veterans stated in a press release, "Memorial Day is a special time for our nation to recognize those who have fought for our country, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. It’s also a time to offer our support to the men and women who are currently in harm’s way." We should never forget the ultimate sacrifice given by the 18 Wisconsin Veterans in the past year in this war on terror. Let us remember our own members who have passed on this past year, Gordon Dickie Jr, Myron "Mike" Miller and Roger Murphy.

The Mohican Veterans participate in the Annual Parade in Gresham honoring Veterans on Memorial Day. The color guard and the veterans that want to participate in the parade march down Main Street of Gresham. After the parade there is a ceremony held at the Gresham Park honoring the deceased veterans. Because of the bad weather this year the parade was canceled.

On Memorial Day there are Veterans across the county being honored for the service they did or are doing. In December of 2000 there was a resolution passed called the "National Moment of Remembrance". The resolution was passed which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans to voluntarily observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect. Pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘taps’ to remember the Veterans.

The Mohican Veterans are a proud origination and one of many across the county that know the importance of respecting and honoring Veterans not only on Memorial Day but every day as well.