Prairie Band Potawatomi Color Guard Places at National American Legion Competition

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

INDIANAPOLIS – The We-Ta-Se Color Guard made the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation proud by its placement in competition on Friday.

We-Ta-Se Color Guard

The group took third place in the Open Military Class competition and ninth place at the Advancing and Retiring Colors competition at the 94th Annual American Legion National Conference held in Indianapolis Aug. 24.

The We-Ta-Se Color Guard consists of tribal citizens of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, based in Mayetta, Kansas.

Seven We-Ta-Se veterans participated in the contest including Jim Potts, Frank Shopteese, Lorrie Wahwassuck, Tim Ramirez, John Melchior, Charles Wakole and Robert Jackson.

The group left Mayetta on Thursday morning for the convention for Indianapolis for the trip of almost 570 miles.

On Saturday, the We-Ta-Se Color Guard performed during the American Legion parade in downtown Indianapolis.

Jim Potts and Frank Shopteese, who are the liaisons for the We-Ta-Se department, will also participate in convention meetings and activities this week. At the district level, Potts serves as the Commander of the northeast Kansas American Legion district and Shopteese is a member of the district committee.

posted August 27, 2012 8:40 am edt