Gun Lake Tribe Observes Memorial Day

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

BRADLEY, MICHIGAN – There was a lone eagle staff near the flag pole that flies the American flag at the Bradley Indian Cemetery early on Memorial Day. It was there to remember those war veterans who have passed away.

Chairman DK Sprague (l) looks on as American flag that
once flew over Afghanistan is raised.

Scattered at various graves were other eagle staffs that were posted to honor their family members who served in the United States Armed Forces.

The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Tribe, Ogitch-E-Daa - the Gun Lake Tribe Color Guard - arrived early on Monday on Memorial to place the eagle staffs.

The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish, commonly known as the Gun Lake Tribe of Pottawatomi Indians, is a federally recognized tribe that is based in Dorr, Michigan.

The Ogitch-E-Daa marched into the cemetery with drumming provided by the Sons of Three Fires Drum.

The observance attracted over one hundred people to the small cemetery where the Gun Lake's ancestors are buried. Joining the American Indian color guard was another honor guard of non-Indians who represented various branches of the US Armed Forces, who came observe Memorial Day with the Gun Lake Tribe.

Each color guard fired their own 21-gun salute. Each color guard had a member of their own guard plays taps.

Ogitch-E-Daa Color Guard at the Bradley Indian Cemetery

“This is the second year we've held this observance. My brother, Joe, wanted us to establish our color guard. He knew he was getting up in age and he told me he wanted his own tribe's color guard to carry his casket when he passes on. So, we established our tribe's color guard,”

stated Tribal Chairman D.K. Sprague.

His brother, the Reverend Joseph Sprague, passed away last year on June 3. He was a World War II veteran. When he passed away, the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Ogitch-E-Daa served as an honor guard to the respected elder of the tribe.

Yesterday, Chairman Sprague, a Vietnam veteran, presided over the Memorial Day observance. He recognized a non-tribal member, a disabled veteran of the Iraq War, who attended the service with a tribal member.

“Thank you and welcome home,”

Sprague told the young veteran, who now walks with a cane because of an injury sustained in Iraq.

During the service, Chairman Sprague also helped to raise a special American flag that once flew over an operation in Afghanistan. It was loaned to the Tribe to fly on Memorial by Lisa Droski, a registered nurse who works for the Tribe. She received it from her son, Jacob, who served in Afghanistan and is now serving in Kaiserslatern, Germany.

The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Ogitch-E-Daa consists of various tribal members who have served in the United States military dating back to the Korean Conflict.

posted May 29, 2012 9:20 am edt