TH CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
i ed each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
Henry T.\ klear Day Scheduled as Part of Indian
Heritage Month: Local Hero to be Honored in Hoke County
By: Connee Brayboy
November is Indian Heritage
Month and many events are planned
in observance. One of the most interesting
and deserving is the Henry T.
LocklearDaytobe observed in nearby
Hoke County. Locklear's Day will be
observed November 8,1996 at South
Hoke Elementary School beginning
with lunch at 12:00 p.m. Lunch will
be followedjby a program.
Why observe Henry T. Lock lea r
Day? Because he is a war hero. One
of the heroes of the Vietnam War.
Locklear is the highest decorated
Lumbee Vietnam Veteran and the
second-highest decorated Indian in
Vietnam.
The idea was suggested by Don
Steed, Superintendent of the Hoke
County Schools. Locklear, owner and
operator of East Coast Steamway,,
has the contract for Hoke County
Schools. He and the superintendent
began talking one day and Steed realized
that he was talking with a real
hero. Locklear told Steed about his
tour of duty with the United States
Army and the medals he had won
while serving two tours of duly in
Vietnam. Steed thought that Locklear
was an excellent role model for children
and felt that he had a lot of
wisdom and experience, as well as
exciting war stories to share with the
students. From this conversation the
concept of Henry Locklear Day was
conceived
Locklear was instrumental in the
rescue of the twelve men who survived
"Hamburger Hill." Forhis military
action he has received 20 awards
and honors, including two Silver
Stars which he received for gallantry
in action. A Silver Star is given only
when a soldier ehdangers his own
life. He also received t two Bronze
Stars (Valor) for heroism.
South Hoke Elementary was formerly
Ha wkeye School and Locklear
is a 1963 graduateof that high school.
He also has a degree in business
management from the University of
South Carolina.
Locklear spent 14 years in the
United States Army and served two
tours of duty in Vietnam, 1965-66
and 1968. When helelt the Army in
1980 as a First Sergeant, he began
his carpel cleaning business.
Born in 1945to Howard Locklear,
Locklear grew up in Maxton. He is
also the son of the late Gertha Jacobs
Locklear He was one of eight children
born to this farm family. He and
his wife, Sylvia, now reside in Lumberton,
although he maintains ties to
both the Prospect community and
the South Hoke area, having attended
school at Prospect also.
Locklear is very modest about all
the attention being paid to him, but is
proud of his military service and
feels that it was his duty to serve his
country. He is very adamant about
the advice he has for children at
South Hoke Elementary and all other
schools. He advises them like this:
"Stay in school. Don't Discriminate
and don't smoke or drink."
He believes that anything is possible,
if you apply yourself and work
hard.
He is proud to be a Native American
and holds membership in the
Tuscarora Tribe of North Carolina.
He is humbled, he said, by the opportunity
to serve as a role model for
children and is pleased that the event
falls during Indian Heritage Month.
Among the honors and awards
Locklear received during his 14 year
career (1963-1977) arc the follow
ing:
Combat Infantry Badge; Master
Parachute Badge; National Defense
Service Medal; four Good Conduct
Medals; Expert Infantry badge; Vietnam
Gallery Cross/Bronze Star;
Ranger Honor Guard; two Silver
Stars; Drill Sergeant-Honor Guard;
Meritorious Service Medal; two
Bronze Stars( Valor); two Army Commendations
Medals; Defense Service
Medal; Vietnam Campaign
Medal; five Vietnam Service Medals;
Pathfinder-Honor Guard; Jungle ...
Expert; and Distinguished Trooper
Award.
During the day Locklearis medals
and other memorabilia will be on
display for the children to view.
When asked how he felt about
being a hero, Locklear said: "I didn't
start out to be a hero. I just knew that
I wasinthcll.S. Army and I had been
taught to do my very best. That's all
that I did...the very best that I
could...The heroism part just followed."
Among the planned program activities
on Locklear Day will be a
speech by Ret. Major Gen. Richard
E. Davis and the Robeson County
Honor Guard will present the Flag.
Also for the first time the Board of
Commissioners will present a Hoke
County Certificate of Honor for Heroism
and Leadership. Locklear will be
the first recipient. The Resolution of
Honor will be permanently displayed
at the Hoke County Board of Education
and a portrait of Locklear will be
unveiled to hang in South Hoke Elementary.
HOKE COUNTY CERTIFICA TE OF HONOR FOR
HEROISM AND LEADERSHIP
WHEREAS. Henry Ihermond Locklear has served this community and
county very well having been pronounced to be the "Highest
Decorated Lumbee Indian in the Vietnam War"; and
WHEREAS, he has distinguished himself by heroic action,
personal courage, and fearless leadership in one of the
most unpopular wars ever in the history of our
government except thedvil War; and
WHEREAS, he served exceptionally meritoriously in both combat
and in peace time for all the citizens of this county to protect
them from the hands of communism; and
WHEREAS, through the performance of his duties and responsibilities
as the Boy Scoutmaster of Troop t> 307, he took forty-one (41) boys
from this community and won the State Of North Carolina
Scouting Championship; also himself recognized as
the Scoutmaster of the Year 1974; and
WHEREAS, he is now the Executive Officer of the Robeson County
Honor Guard which provides military funeral services for the counties
of Robeson, Scotland, and Hoke, which is a public community
service he does gratis for his fellow comrades; and
WHEREAS, he has earned the admiration and high regard of those'
with whom he has come in contact and the affection of his
fellowman (who are proud to call him "friend or pal,")
regardless of race, color, or creed.
BE IT RESOLVED, that this certificate of honor Is issued in recognition
of the superb leadership and heroism of Henry Thermond Locklear.
A copy of this certificate of honor for Henry Thermond Locklear
shall be duly noted and entered into the minutes of this meeting
of the Hoke County Commissioners.
Bond Referedum Passage could
bring $64 Million for Schools
Civic leaders along with business
and industrial leaders from across
Robeson County'met with members
ofthe county's legislative delegation
at a breakfast meeting held on October
8th to kick off the campaign for
passage of school bonds aria road
bonds refcrendums during the November
5th election. Representative
Ron Sutton explained to the group
how both Houses of the Legislature
were able to work in a non-partisan
matter to get the issues on the ballot
i after which Purncll Swett, Superintendent
ofthe Public SchoolsofRobeson
County, showed, by way of a
visual presentation, the great need
that the county has of the almost
$64,000,Q00 which is would receive
if the $1.8 billion referendum passes.
It would be used to make improvements
at m^py of our schools, the
majority of which are forty to over
seventy years old. It would also be
used to eliminate many of the 118
mobile classrooms now in use. Also
on the program was Bob Nelson who
represented the Department of Transrsrtation
and told the group how the
1.775 million to be derived from the
Road Bond for Robeson County
would be used.
Annual Spotlight on
Women Conference Set
. The 35th Annual Spotlight on
Women Conference, sponsored by
the North Carolina Federation of
Business and Professional Women's
Clubs, Inc. (BPW/nc) will be held on
Saturday, October 26, 1996, at the
Holiday Inn-Four Seasons in Greensboro.
Held at the end of National
, Business Women's Week, the Spotlight
on Women Conference serves
tfs an educational and cultural awareness
symposium for working women,
' as well as a means of increasing
awareness of women's challenges
and responsibilities in our changing
society.
This year's keynote speaker is
Blaine Marshall, candidate for the
scat of Secretary of State in North
Carolina. Marshall is an attorney, a ,
former N.C. Senator who was instrumental
in getting the Domestic violence
bill passed; an active member
of BPW/nc, and a member of the Bar
Association. She will speak on the
impact of women politically in the
21st century.
The conference is also the setting
for announcing BPW/nc's 1996 State
Career Woman of the Year. Nominees
are chosen from all across the
state and they represent women who
have promoted the interest of business
women and fostered a spirit of
cooperation within their communities.
Student nurses from Eastern New Mexico Universlty-Roswell received
the award for best overall flat at the Eastern New Mexico State Fair Parade
in Roswell recently. Shown on the winning float Is Roderick Brewer of
Pembroke, NC who is President of the Nurse Association of Eastern New
Mexico University in Roswell, NM.
, Brewer is the son of Patricia B. I.ocklear.
A lot of heart went into the Eastern New Mexico State Fair Parade
recently-and a lot of heart won It.
The award for best overall float went to the Eastern New Mexico
University-Roswell student nursesfor their float with two giant hearts on
it.
As estimated 30,00 lined the Main Street Route to see the parade that
kicked off the 74th Eastern New Mexico State Fair, the oldest fair in the
state. Of the 89 entries, the ENMU-R student nursingfloat was one of the
highlights.
Brewer said, "We'reJust so excited- this is awesome."
. He said this is the first vear nursing had a float and he and his fellow
students wanted people to know there Is a nursing program in Roswell and
t^e students are active.
Observes 85th Birthday
Mrs. Gretrude Canady Blanks, the wife of the late Prentis Blanks ofSt
Pauls, celebrated her 85th birthday at Ten Mile Center Baptist Church
Fellowship Halt Sunday, October 13, 1996. The honoree was given a
birthday cake and a delicious dinner. Invocation was by Mrs. Hartman
Hammonds.
Mrs. Blanks was born October 18, 1911 in the Lumberton area. She
is the mother of three children: Willie Glenn Blanks, Mrs. Bertie Jane
Barnhill and Mrs. Sharon Henderson, all of St. Pauls; jive grandchildren,
and two great-grandchildren.
Many friends and relatives attended the event who wished her many
more returns of the day. (Photo and text by Tech. Sgt. W.P. Revels)
Pembroke Housing
4
Authority Activities
The Helping Hands Youth Choir
from Pembroke Housing Authority
was invited to sing at Union Chapel
Holiness Methodist Church in revival
on October 18, 1996.ThcChoir
was invited by Sister Dufrcna
Locklcar who also sponsors "Kids
Time ForChrrst" eachThursday night
at Maynor Manor Youth Center. The
youth would like to thank Rev.
Dufrcnc Cummings. Sister Dufrcna
and the Church for a wonderful and
warm welcome.
The Youth Sports Program sponsored
39 youths from the different
developments on an outing to the
Lumbcc Fall Pow Wow. Many of the
youth had never been to a pow wow.
After such an event they were more
aware of their heritage and the meaning
of pow wows The youth were
able to meet new friends from other
schools, many of them learned different
dances, and they were able to
appreciate the arts and crafts including
pottery, which they have learned
from the lessons taught by Karl A.
Hunt.
"It is tremendously important for
the youth to interact with others outride
their communities. Events such
as the pow wows help with their
heritage recognition and increases
their social skills," said Richard C.
Jones, Cultural Program Coordinator.
ThcYouth Sports Program would
like to give a special thank you to the
voluntccrsthat helped with this event:
Donna Campbell of Maynor Manor.
Vicky Jacobs of Strickland Heights,
and Jessica Locklcar of Prospect.
If you or your company would like
to be a volunteer or sponsor of any
event, please contact Jones at 5211030.
First Annual RCC Pow Wow Planned
3
The First Annual Robeson Community
College Pow Wow. sponsored
by Phi Tchta Kappa will be
held December 7, 1996 at the College,
located on 1-95 Exit 22. Lumbcrton,
NC.
Grand Entry will be at 10:00a.m.
All dancers and drummers must be
registered by 9:30 a.m. Admission is
$.1 for adults and $ I for students with
RCC ID. Children under 6 will be
admitted free.
Dance competition, traditional
music, cultural demonstrations, native
traders/vendors
Vendors and traders will be by
invitation only. For more information
contact Micah Sampson at 7387101
F.xl 175
NC Equity Honoars
Freda Porter-Locklear
(Raleigh) Each fall NC Equity
honors individuals, organizations
and businesses who have ma'dc significant
contributions to advance the
status of women in North
Carolina.OnFriday October 18,19%
winners will be recognized at the
seventh Carpathian Awards Event.
Dr. Freda Portcr-Locklear is one
, of two individuals receiving the award
for Speaking Out. Dr. Locklear has
worked for more than ten years to
build opportunities for women, especially
Native American women, in
the fields of mathematics and engineering
and other sciences She has
been a role model and highly visible
advocate for women and Native
Americans within the university community
and was instrumental in creating
mentoring programsand workshops
for girls to encourage and support
women entering these fields.
Carpathian Awards were also
given to Andrea Harris of the NC
Institute for Minority Economic Development
forSpcaking Out; to Betty
Lou Griffin of Clinton, NC for Per
sonal Advocacy; to Dr. Beverly
Malonc of Greensboro for Health
Advocacy; and to CAD Plus/Plain
Paper Solutions headquartered in the
Triangle for Corporate Advocacy.
1996 marks the seventh year the
Carpathian Awards have been given
and NC Equity's tenth year of work
on behalf of North Carolina women.
The Carpathian Award theme is derived
from the Carpathian Women of
Ancient Greece, known for their
strength and leadership. They shared
full responsibility for government,
athletics, and commerce with men.
Those nominated must be based in
North Carolina or have significant
contributions within the state.
NC Equity is a statewide, private,
non-profit, public policy and advocacy
organization which works for
the economic advancement and wellbeing
of women in North Carolina.
Current NC Equity programs are:
The Women's Agenda. Women of
Color Program, Work and Family
Center and the Economic Initiative.