Christopher Lomahquahu
ICT
PHOENIX — The 21st Sunrise Service was held to honor the legacy of the U.S. Army Spc. Lori Piestewa, Hopi, at the footsteps of the mountain that is her namesake on March 23. Veterans groups and friends of the Piestewa family gathered to remember the 23-year-old mother who was the first Indigenous U.S. soldier killed in combat, three days after U.S. forces invaded Iraq in 2003.
The sunrise service is organized by a collective group of veterans under the charge of Jim Covarrubias, a U.S. Army veteran and chairman for Piestewa Fallen Heroes Memorial. “This is the 21st year and we’re having this very sacred ceremony in front of the sacred mountain, named after Lori Piestewa. So we’re honoring the sacrifice of military families who lost their sons and daughters in defense of our country in our freedom,” Covarrubias said.
In 2008 the U.S. Board on Geographic Names renamed the mountain in Piestewa’s honor as a fitting tribute to her life and service.
Members of the Piestewa family spoke about the outpouring of support to remember her service and sacrifice, including other members of the armed forces, who gave their lives during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“Every year the amount of support we received, seeing everyone here to help us heal and seeing all the Goldstar Families present, just knowing what you all went through,” Whiterock said, who was four-years-old, and his sister, Carla, an infant, when their mother was killed in action.
Whiterock said the emotional scars of his mothers death have been challenging through the years, but with the support from various family members and friends has created a path to healing.
“They would tell me that it’s a good reason to come. You have to, when you come you have to have an open heart and open mind and take all these blessings in. When you do come here, that’s when the healing truly begins,” Whiterock said.
He said with healing comes the understanding that there is more to appreciate around him, that his mother would want that for everyone. He said on the days when it is emotionally hard, there are days like one to honor his mother, that show how life can gather everyone together to take a moment and look back at the lives that were lost in combat.
“Thank you for the dedication, how many of us have that support? We are so thankful, I’m so grateful that you are all here – all the Gold Star families that we have,” Piestewa’s mother Percy said. She said the event not only pays tribute to her daughter’s life, but to recognize the countless families of service members.
“Please know that I love each and every one of you and know that I am so grateful and so humbled to be here to honor my daughter to honor each and every one of you. It’s just it’s amazing,” Percy said. She added the bonds between her family and the soldier who served with Piestewa are “my adopted kids,” for being there for her family.
The soldiers who served alongside Piestewa and were captured by Iraqi forces after the ambush were present at this year’s ceremony. Jessica Lynch, Shoshana Johnson, Joseph Hudson, Edgar Hernandez and Patrick Miller have gathered throughout the years to support the Piestewa family. A fifth soldier that was also captured after the ambush was James Riley, who was not present at the event.
“Thank you so much for the your support and your prayers,” Lynch said, who was a close friend of Piestewa, from the time they met in basic training to the day their convoy was ambushed. “Without Lori, without our fallen comrades we feel that hurt inside each of us and every year,” Lynch said.
Lynch was appreciative of the support she and fellow survivors has received, stating it was important to not forget the Lori and others who did not return home. “That love and support that you give to us each and every year and those prayers that keep us going every single year,” Lynch said.
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