POWWOW Calendar

Iwo Jima Hero Ira H. Hayes Remembered This Weekend in Powwow Named in His Honor

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

7 Powwows

SACATON, ARIZONA - When he was still 19 years old, Ira H. Hayes, a Pima Indian, joined the Marine Reserve Forces during World War II. He fought in the Pacific Theatre. He and his unit landed on Iwo Jima to fight in the battle there.

Four days after landing and securing the island, he and other Marines and a Navy Corpsman raised the American flag over Mount Surbachi. The raising of the United States was captured in a famous picture by photographer Joe Rosenthal.

The photograph was immortalized into the Iwo Jima Memorial that is located outside of Arlington National Cemetery.

On Friday and Saturday, the First Nations Warrior Society hosts the annual Ira H. Hayes Veterans Social Powwow to honor all veterans. The powwow will be held at the Sacaton Middle School Gym, located at 150 Skill Center Road in Sacaton, Arizona.

There will be gourd dances on Friday at 5:00 pm and Saturday from 1:00 - 5:00 pm. Grand Entries are Friday at 7:00 pm and Saturday at 6:00 pm. If you plan to attend, organizers ask you bring your own chairs.

POWWOW Calendar

In addition to the Ira H. Hayes Veterans Social Powwow, other powwows that are happening this weekend are listed below.

Ira H. Hayes Veterans Social Powwow
February 24 - 26
150 Skill Center Road
Sacaton, Arizona

DeLand Honoring the Veterans
February 24 - 26
DeLand YMCA
761 East International Boulevard
DeLand, Florida

NYA's Presidential Powwow
February 24 - 25
US Capitol
Upper Senate Park
200 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington DC

Conestoga College 2nd Annual Traditional Powwow
February 25
299 Doon Valley Drive
Ketchener, Ontario

132nd Chemawa Birthday
February 25
Chemawa School Gym
Salem, Oregon

Mascoutin Society Winter Social Dance
February 25
Lyonville Congregational Church
6871 Joliet Roar
Indian Head Park, Illinois

13th International Peace
February 25 - 26
Enmax Centre
2410 Scenic Drive South
Lethbridge, Canada

posted February 23, 2012 6:00 am est