Veterans Day has passed for another year, but the College of Menominee Nation is working to ensure local warriors’ contributions won’t soon be forgotten.
CMN last week held a public reception to mark the opening of a special exhibit featuring photos of about 70 tribal veterans, plaques, awards and photo albums.
The show will continue until Dec. 12 in the college’s S. Verna Fowler Academic Library/Menominee Public Library, N172 State Highway 47-55, Keshena.
Even when the exhibit closes, however, the project will continue.
“We are just trying to get the ball rolling,” said Bryan Stevenson, head of the library’s special collections department, who will continue to seek veterans photos for a permanent digital collection accessible online.
The project began in August when the special collections department invited members of the community to submit photographs of themselves or family members who served in the armed forces.
Stevenson said many of the photos loaned to the library are family treasures, occupying places of honor in homes and offices. They represent soldiers who served during World War II, in Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, the Iraq War, the Afghan War and the intervening years of peacetime.
At the Nov. 12 reception, Stevenson said he was surprised by the number of photos from the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
John Teller Jr., who attended the reception and contributed to the collection, served in Iraq during his stint with the Marines from 1999-2003.
“Serving in the Marine Corps was an honor,” he said. “I served not only for my country, but also for my people and my family to protect our freedom and our liberties.
“The Native American people have a very proud history of military service, and I feel that by serving, we are helping to carry on that tradition … following in the footsteps of my grandfathers.”
Footsteps such as those left by World War II veteran Sam Boyd.
Laura Doud, Boyd’s niece, submitted two photos for the digital archive. Boyd was among the most highly decorated Menominee to serve in the Army. His awards included a Purple Heart.
Doud was encouraged to contribute by a family friend, Myrna Warrington, who knew Boyd. Doud and Warrington attended the opening of the photo exhibit.
Boyd remained humble and never discussed any of his experiences when he returned home from the war, Warrington said.
“When he returned home from the war, nobody knew his story… and nobody knew that until he died,” she said.
Stevenson said the digital collection, meant not only to preserve photos but also to honor and thank local veterans for their service, will ensure the stories of Boyd and others live on.
Anyone interested in submitting photos for the digital archive should contact Stevenson at 715-799-6226, ext. 3196, or bstevenson@menominee.edu.
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