November 2007 Vol. 26. No. 11

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Creativity in the Garden
Medicare’s annual enrollment period
Not quite a scam
Public safety
Alzheimer’s Month
Veterans Day

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Veterans Day
The original patriots to be celebrated in Fortuna Nov. 11
by Mary Ann Bansen

Fortuna Senior Services will honor veterans at a new place this year, the Veterans Memorial Building, 1426 Main St., Fortuna, on Sunday, Nov. 11, from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

The Original Patriots is the theme for this year’s event, based on the book by Chag Lowry that honors Northern California Native American veterans of WWII.

Yurok, Karuk and Hupa people have a ceremony known as the Brush Dance. Several singers and traditional dancers will present the sacred ceremony that is thousands of years old.

Members of Native American tribes in Humboldt County have served in the United States military since World War I. In World War II members of the Yurok, Karuk, Hupa, Wiyot, Tolowa and Mattole cultures served in every branch of the U.S. armed forces.

Local Native American men were present in every major battle in the war. They saw combat at Midway, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and Okinawa in the Pacific. They fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, at D-Day in Normandy and in the Ardennes Forest during the Battle of the Bulge in Europe.

Author Chag Lowry will give a presentation about Native American veterans of World War II. He is co-director and co-producer of a recent KEET-TV documentary based on the book. Lowry is of Yurok, Maidu and Pit River ancestry. He has taught at HSU and CR and currently works as the Native Cultures Fund program officer at the Humboldt Area Foundation.

Tickets cost $10 for non-members and are available at Horizon Business Products, Green’s Pharmacy, Linda’s Hallmark and Redwood Capital Bank. Member tickets are $5 and are available from Jack East, 3106 School St., at meetings or in the office.

Raffle tickets are available at the office or from Jack East. They will also be on sale at the event. Tickets are $2 each or 12 for $10. Raffle prizes include $200 cash, a $100 gas card from Renner Petroleum, one-night stay and a $50 gift certificate at the Benbow Inn, a Thanksgiving basket valued at $100 and a Patriotic Basket.

Following the presentation, Big Band Swing will be playing tunes from the World War II era for your dancing and listening pleasure.

Daughters of the American Revolution is handling the refreshments for the Veterans Day event.

Mary Ann Bansen is director of Fortuna Senior Services Inc. Contact her at the office, 726-9203, or by e-mail: admin@fortunasenior.org.