Native Warrior Run 2009 is upon us...

And so the sacred journey begins...

On May 11th, 2009, the Native Warrior Run will begin its trek to Washington, D. C. This event will feature many stops through various Native Communities through this great country. This Run has been instrumental in bringing long overdue recognition to our Native American Veterans of the Vietnam Era. With it comes a healing process for Veterans, families and Communities and a time to recognize past events and memories that acknowledge the fact Native Americans are all a part of an American past, that has seen success and has felt failures.

This run is about neither loss or gain; it is about an appreciation for our communities' warriors, those who give unselfishly. It is about people who humbly gave of themselves; their time, their bodies, and their minds. Years have been given to protect America and what it stands for, their bodies have felt and may show what all they gave or lost and their minds will forever be with their time and service and experiences that many will never come to understand. It is during this time, that the participants of the Native Warrior Run, Veteran and supporter, acknowledge the Veteran and those who made the Ultimate Sacrifice.

During this Run, we credit our true community leaders, our Veterans, as they have demonstrated the greatest of all civil service duties: service above self.

The Native Warrior Run will begin its trek in Arizona, but it must forever run in the hearts and minds of all our communities...we must never forget.

The Run will continue its journey through the Gila River, Salt River, San Carlos and White Mountain Indian communities before it heads to New Mexico, Oklahoma and Tennessee and finally to Washington, D.C.

The Vietnam War:

It was the longest war in American history and the most unpopular American war of the twentieth century. It resulted in nearly 60,000 American deaths. During the Vietnam War, close to 90% of the 86,000 American Indians who enlisted volunteered, giving Native Americans the highest record of service per capita of any ethnic group. Over half served in combat.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13