New marker unveiled during annual ceremony
Robbinsville – He is considered by many the unsung hero of the greatest Native American battle in United States history.
He has been memorialized with namesakes: Junaluska Ridge, Lake Junaluska, Junaluska Gap, Junaluska Creek, Mount Junaluska and Junaluska Salamander.
He was a brave Cherokee warrior who is credited for saving the life of the future President of the United States – Andrew Jackson – at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.
He survived the Trail of Tears, losing his wife along the way.
He walked 800 miles back home to his mountains.
He fell ill and died on his way to healing springs.
His grave sits on a hill above the town of Robbinsville and Junaluska, will forever be remembered for his bravery, his love for his people and his dedication to his home in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
On Friday, the 113th Annual Junaluska Wreath Laying Ceremony was held. Even a cold snap and soft drizzle of rain couldn’t keep the crowd from gathering on the hillside of Chief Junaluska’s burial site. This ceremony had great significance, as the new memorial honoring the Chief for his service in the military was unveiled.
The memorial is long overdue. In 2010, full military honors were rendered at his gravesite. At that time, an application was made by the Department of Veteran Affairs to the National Cemetery Administration Memorial Programs to have a military headstone issued to mark his grave. The request was denied March 18, 2011 – with the rationale being that the Daughters of the American Revolution had already marked his grave.
The most important part was that Junaluska was recognized as a U.S. Armed Forces Veteran.
New marker
The long-awaited ceremony began as the Steve Youngdeer American Post 143 Color Guard posted the colors. Students from the Shirley Oswalt Snowbird Cherokee Language Program then recited the Pledge of Allegiance in Cherokee.
Roger Smoker – a first-language Cherokee speaker – opened the service in prayer and Becca Snow Phillips sang “Amazing Grace” in Cherokee. The wreath was presented by Jenni Junaluska and Cecilia Arrowwood.
District 120 Rep. Karl E. Gillespie (R-Franklin) spoke next.
“The impact Junaluska had locally, statewide and across this nation was substantial,” Gillespie pointed out. “On behalf of the North Carolina House of Representatives and all of the citizens of North Carolina, we salute Junaluska. We salute the family of Junaluska and we are so proud to be here to do that.”
The memorial itself was unveiled by Roberta Gloyne, Loretta Sequoyah and Paulette Cox.
“Taps” was played as the crowd stood in silence. Jarret Wildcatt then played a flute, before Smoker returned for a closing prayer.
The memorial now marks his grave alongside the monument that was erected in 1910 by the Gen. Joseph Winston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The bottom of the headstone reads, “He was very brave. He was not afraid.”
Junaluksa will always be remembered as a man who protected the Cherokee, tried to establish peace, resisted division and fought heroically for his country.