Tribe honors veterans with memorial wreath laying 

In honor of Memorial Day, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians held the Memorial Laying of the Wreath Ceremony last Friday at the Choctaw Veterans Memorial.

The ceremony honored members of the military who died in service defending the freedom and ideals of the nation. 

Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben, 2019-2021 Choctaw Indian Princess Elisah Jimmie, Tribal Council Representatives Wilma Simpson-McMillan and Ronnie Henry Sr., Choctaw Veterans Color Guard, Protective Services Unit officials, Choctaw Veterans Affairs officials, other Tribal officials, and several Tribal member Veterans, as well as members of the Tribal community were present.

Princess Elisah led the program as emcee and introduced the Choctaw Veterans Color Guard, who presented the colors. Darien Tubby sang the National Anthem in the Choctaw language and the Rev. Thomas Ben gave the invocation.

Ben offered remarks and thanked the members of the military for their service and sacrifice, as well as honoring those members who paid the ultimate price for freedom. 

Chief Master Sgt. Ricky Alex was the guest speaker and reminded everyone of the sacrifices made by not only the military members but their families as well. He spoke of his own personal struggle with being simultaneously proud and concerned for his own son, who is considering joining the military.

Ben, Alex, Elisah and Choctaw Veterans Affairs Director Sammie Wilson then gathered around the wall near the center of the Veterans Memorial and laid the wreath. Members of the Protective Services Unit then fired a gun salute, and one member played taps.

Wilson concluded the ceremony by thanking attendees for coming out to honor the veterans.