Annual ceremony pays tribute to legendary warrior
Robbinsville – He was an unsung hero in one of the greatest Native American battles in the history of the United States.
He was a brave Cherokee Warrior credited for saving the life of future President Andrew Jackson at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.
He survived the Trail of Tears, where he witnessed an estimated 6,000 Cherokee die and walked 800 miles back to his home in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
Chief Junaluska will forever be remembered as a brave warrior who loved his people and his home.
On Nov. 13, a crowd gathered at Chief Junaluska’s resting place, which is situated on a hillside overlooking Robbinsville. Members of the Cherokee nation, town officials, students from Robbinsville Elementary School, Cherokee royalty, tribal council members, and others assembled to pay respects as part of the 114th Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony.
The ceremony began as the Steve Youngdeer American Post 143 Colorguard posted the colors. Students from the Shirley Oswalt Cherokee Language Program led in the Pledge of Allegiance in Cherokee, before First Language Cherokee Speaker Roger Smoker opened the ceremony in prayer, before Junaluska Museum Cultural Resource Speaker Angelina Jumper welcomed everyone.
Warren Dupree of the Steve Youngdeer American Post 143 Colorguard shared a touching tribute, which was followed by Rebecca Snow singing “Amazing Grace” in Cherokee.
Sixth-generation Junaluska descendant Jenni Junaluska and Cecilia Arrowood then presented the wreath and placed it on the tombstone. Vice Chief Alan B. Ensley spoke on behalf of Principal Chief Michell Hicks, who was in Washington, D.C., followed by the unveiling of the plaque by Paulette Cox, Loretta Sequoyah and Roberta Gloyne. Cox presented the members of the Steve Youngdeer Post 143 with plaques of recognition for their dedication and support for the annual event.
Jarrett Wildcatt sealed the program with a beautiful melody on the flute and Roger Smoker gave a closing prayer.
In 2010, full military honors were rendered at the 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 of the request was that Junaluska was recognized as a U.S. Armed Forces Veteran. The Friends of Junaluska approached the Steve Youngdeer Post 143 to assist in the military memorial for Junaluska, which was revealed at last year’s ceremony.