On one side of the entrance to American Legion Post 16 in Bagley, Minn., an honor guard stood at attention. Wearing their blue Legion caps, rifles at their sides, the veterans welcomed American Legion National Commander David K. Rehbein as he stepped out of a white van and onto the slushy sidewalk. On the other side of the entrance, a different – but equally proud – honor guard stood at attention, eagle staffs at their sides, adorned in feathers, headdresses and medicine bags.
The White Earth Veterans Association Honor Guard, composed largely of Chippewa Indians from northwestern Minnesota, helped lead the commander into the post. A tribal spiritual leader pounded rhythmically on an animal-skin drum as ankle bells jingled with each step of the procession. The aroma of fried walleye drifted in from the kitchen.
Post 16 Commander Nona Hanson said Rehbein’s late-March visit was the first-ever to Bagley by an American Legion national commander. More than 100 local Legionnaires turned out to enjoy the fish and wild rice luncheon and to hear the commander deliver inspiring remarks about the Legion’s recent impact in Washington, particularly its having reversed a White House proposal to bill the insurance companies of combat-wounded veterans. He also gave credit where credit is due, for the administration’s record-setting budget proposal for VA in the next fiscal year. Rehbein spoke directly to the Legionnaires about the month of April – with the National Oratorical Contest coming up, Boys State selections about to be made and American Legion Baseball teams soon setting their rosters. He spoke of the opportunity Legionnaires have to impress values on young people by getting involved with youth programs.
The White Earth Honor Guard presented the commander with a basket fashioned from birch bark. Inside the basket was a bag of wild rice and a book on the history of the White Earth people, who have a proud heritage of military service that dates back to the Civil War.
“We’re more than a bunch of guys who meet and go to funerals and parades,” said Don York, a member of the honor guard, which has nearly 70 members. York is the building manager of a new veterans center on the reservation that provides a multitude of community services. Inside the center are displayed uniforms, medals and historical artifacts donated by White Earth veterans, including the battle fatigues of Gulf War veteran Michael Libby; soot from the great oil-field fires of the Gulf War can still be seen in the fabric. The center also provides meeting space, a room for youth music education, a kitchen for special events and opportunities for private counseling for veterans.
Honor guard member Peter Thompson, a combat-wounded Vietnam War veteran, says the ceremonial group travels throughout Minnesota and beyond for various events and pow-wows. A photographic history of the reservation’s wartime sacrifices can be found in a gallery of honor at the Indian Health Services clinic at White Earth. Hanging there in precise order, by war era, are photographs, medals and citations of all from the community who have given their lives fighting for the United States.
An article on the veteran heritage of the White Earth reservation is scheduled to appear in The American Legion Magazine this summer.
See a video of the White Earth Honor Guard welcoming American Legion National Commander David K. Rehbein to Bagley, Minn., along with glimpses of the White Earth Veterans Association center on the reservation and the wall of honor inside the IHS clinic.
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