Press Release, Camille Monzon, Executive Director
Too often people think only of children & families during Christmas. News media is replete with tearjerking stories about what kids are doing without for the holidays and the public is shamed into digging deeper into their pockets for kids less fortunate. You see the US Marine Corps beating the drwn with their “Toys for Tots,” which fails to distribute their toys to smaller community-based organizations that help the children in various communities of color in Seattle-King County.
“It’s disgraceful that during this holiday season many people in our so-called great country have completely forgotten about the courageous men and women who have served in the military and fought for our basic freedoms,” said Camille Monzon-Richards, executive director emerita. “At the Seattle Indian Center we call these men & women The Forgotten Warriors because they are largely ignored and are thrown under the bus because they don’t fit the paradigm that makes fer a touchy-feely little Christmas story,” continued Monzon-Richards.
Americans have forgotten the tremendous sacrifice made by these veterans from the Korean War, VietNam War, the first & second Gulf Wars and Afghanistan. The veterans have come home to a wretched economy with too-few job opportunities and a disillusionment with society. Many have been marginalized and are forced to live a hand-to mouth existence, or are homeless. Some are amputees and have difficulty securing wheelchairs; many are suffering from the after effects of Agent Orange in Viet Nam. The Seattle Indian Center helps these veterans every day.
The Seattle Indian Center is hosting an American Indian/Alaska Native “thank-you” to all veterans on Friday, December 21, 2012 from 12 noon to 3 pm. The tribute will take place at the Seattle Indian Center, 611 Twelfth Avenue South, Ste. 300, Seattle, WA. 98144. Phone number is 206.329.8700. The S.LC. welcomes all veterans to the event. They do not have to be American Indian or Alaska Native.
The S.l.e. will have a traditional welcome ceremony for the veterans to be followed by a dinner and distribution of gifts to acknowledge a grateful “thank-you” to the service these men and women have rendered to our country. Attendance at the gift-giving portion will require a DD214 or other proof of eligibility.
Counselors will be available to assist with referrals as needed for housing, employment, education and other emergency services.
For those who care to donate new unused socks, caps, gloves or other new warm clothing for the event are asked to call the Seattle Indian Center at 206.329.8700, 9 to 4 pm.