We are gathered early today for a Blessing by the Elders. Bellamino - a Navajo from the Pueblo of Acoma in New Mexico offers the cleansing smoke from the sage to all of those seated in the Morning Circle. Our small Circles are a thing of the past now... we are joined by many this fine day. It is good to have each and every one of them here with us.

Don Coyhis takes the opportunity this Circle provides to show his appreciation to the Walkers ... saying "There are those here who actually made it all the way across this part of Turtle Island, and they had a lot of hardships. They were later joined by more .. in Arizona and New Mexico. We had others who were able to make a different kind of committment. They would come and walk or run with us for as long as they could.. some would leave.. and then return. Each person's committment to the Walk for Wellbriety is appreciated and honored on this day." Don then presented to the 'core team' of Walkers a Jacket on which was printed the following inscription: "Journey of the Sacred Hoop - LA to DC - Walk for Wellbriety".

We then heard from some of the Elders who arrived yesterday. Several of them had been present for the beginning of this Journey in Los Angeles, California... April 2nd:

Ozzie Williamson -

I didn't find change until 1969. Until I quit looking to other people for change. I learned that change can only come from within. When I changed... I was so lonely. My friends and family who were still using.. didn't want to be around me. They called me preacher... and other names. But I had to go on .. in spite of my fear... of not being accepted.

On April 2nd... when that Hoop started... you were the ones who were the Warriors that day. Stepping out into the unknown. There is no end. >From now on... the web and the circle you created that day will forever be out there... in the children and grandchildren you have touched.

Bill Iron Moccasins -

That Hoop represents everything I've ever dreamed of and hoped for in this Country. And I was so proud when they left on this Journey with the Hoop. We are all on a Journey. It's going to take a while to do what others say is 'impossible'. There is nothing impossible. The old saying in the military is: The difficult we can do immediately... the impossible just takes a bit longer. I have much hope... because I am a realist... and I am sitting in a circle right now... a circle that 40 -50 years ago would not have been possible. See... it only takes a while. It is possible.

Horace Axtell -

I am honored today to be a part of this Circle. We are here to learn. I'm here to learn. We learn until the time we close our eyes. I'm thankful and honored to be here today... to honor this Journey and the People who brought the Hoop here. We're going to see the power that this significant Eagle Feather Hoop has. I'm glad that many of you here know so many good things. We must pass these on to one another. I'm glad I'm here... it's like being home.

Corie Adakai -

That Hoop is about the lesson of letting go. Letting go of the anger of the past. Letting go of the pain. It is good to remember the past... you do not have to forget. But you must know when and what to let go in order to live well today.

After the Morning Circle... we prepared for the afternoon run from Arlington, VA near our hotel.. to the Iwo Jima Memorial on the Potomac River in DC. This would be a 'run' of about 5 miles... and those who chose to volunteer for the run prepared with a short nap and plenty of water. They did a great job.. and arrived at Lady Bird Park on the Potomac River safe and sound. There.. they prepared the Sacred Hoop, the silhouette of Brandy Jo and the banners of the Walk for Wellbriety to be carried to the Iwo Jima Memorial by all those gathered in the park. The following is Rich Simonelli's sharing of the Honoring for the Veterans and for Ira Hayes at the Iwo Jima Memorial

- (vette)

Rich Simonelli's -

The Journey of the Sacred Hoop Walk finished its Los Angeles-to-Washington DC pilgrimage on Saturday, July 9 with a special honoring ceremony for Ira Hayes at the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

The sun was low in the west when a line of approximately 75 walkers emerged from the surrounding streets and entered the park which is home to the great World War II monument. The lead walkers carrying the 100 Eagle Feather Hoop were met by two, four-man honor guards which then led the long procession to the enormous bronze sculpture depicting six marines raising the flag on Mt. Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima in the South Pacific during February, 1945.

As the sun slipped below the memorial, New Mexico Hoop Journey coordinator and M.C. Frank Adakai, Navajo, said, "Our mothers, our fathers, our grandmothers, our children and our relatives have served with distinction so we can all have freedom in this country of ours and respect the flag that represents freedom." Gesturing towards the memorial he continued, "It gives us great pleasure to honor one of our own, Ira Hayes, who is up there. If you don't know which figure is Ira, he's the one in the back."

The 109 day Hoop Journey Walk entered Washington with the purpose of honoring the memory of Corporal Ira Hayes, Pima, from the Gila River community in Arizona and other veterans. Hayes was one of six who helped raise the flag on Mt. Suribachi in 1945 and who is remembered in the famous Marine Corps sculpture. Hayes is depicted as the Marine whose hands have just left the flagpole as it is pushed upright. His right hand forms the highest point in the sculpture, rising to 42 feet above the surrounding promenade.

Members of the Gila River Indian Community traveled to the Ceremony bringing Hayes' presence to the celebration. Gila River youth shared a traditional welcome dance with some 250 celebrants and onlookers. Pima Elder Emmett White, who was just seven years old when Hayes came home from World War II, spoke for the community and read parts of a letter written home by Hayes just before the famous event and photo leading to the sculpture was taken.

White also spoke to the purpose of the 3800 mile Hoop Journey when he said, "We are from the Pima Nation in Arizona. We come here to honor our veterans. From all walks of life we come here to fight the bitter wind that has entered all our homes: alcohol, domestic violence, brother against brother, family against family. There was a prophecy many generations ago that this would happen with the coming of the other people. We lived in harmony with ourselves, with nature, and we took care of our own. With this ceremony today we must turn away from the bitter wind and return to our ways."

When a stand holding one of two flags proved inadequate during the ceremony, MC Frank Adakai picked two young boys from the crowd to hold the flags for the remainder of the event. Ryan Burris, 12, of Felton, Delaware came to the ceremony with his family to welcome the Hoop Walk to Washington. As luck would have it, the Burris family is of Pima descent. Young Ryan played a role by honoring his tribal relative without planning or preparation on anyone's part.

In another unplanned event at the honoring ceremony, elder Ozzie Williamson, Blackfeet, from Billings, Montana received a medal for his service in the Korean War. The medal was awarded by a local military officer who assisted Williamson when the car he was riding in ran out of gas near the Memorial. Having met in this strange manner, the officer came to the ceremony with the medal, which he happened to have in his car at the time, and pinned it to Williamson's chest in a touching and moving moment. Williamson is thought to be the first Indian to receive the medal which is for Korean-era vets.

When they arrived at the Memorial, the Hoop Journey walkers were led in by the Ira Hayes Color Guard from Sacaton, Arizona, Hayes's home town. The Vietnam Era Intertribal Association (VEVITA) honor color guard from the Washington, DC area also represented veterans at the gathering.

- Richard Simonelli