Ti J CAROLINA INDIAN ^OIGE
W Z1 J J i/ * 1
? " zjhed each Thursday by First American Publwdtiom, Pembroke, NC
VOLUME 23 NU, TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
Henry L Locklear Day Honors
Decorated Lumbee Veteran
by Tom Squier
Special to Carolina Indian Voice
On November 8, the Veterans Day
weekend was opened at South Hoke
Elementary School with a ceremony
honoringHenryT. Locklear, an alumnus
of the school and the most highly
decorated Lumbee veteran of Vietnam.
Locklear attended the school
when it was one of three Indian
Schools in the Hoke County School
System and was called Hawkeye
School. First Sergeant, retired,
Locklear said he knew he wanted to
be a soldier shortly before graduating
following a field trip to Fort Bragg.
"There were no other jobs around
hereforusin 1963. Dr. MartinLuther
King hadn't freed us (minorities)
then. I went in for financial reasons
andfora career. It was about the only
thing to do," Locklear remembers.
"My principal, Mr. Hughes (Oxendine)
took us to Fort Bragg. I told
him I wanted to be a paratrooper and
he told me I was too small. This
mentally motivated me to accept this
challenge," said Locklear. Hejoined
the Army in September of 1963,
shortly after graduating from
Hawkeye High School. Today, that
schoolhasanew name, and Lockleai's
portrait and a plaque in his honor
hang in the school's entrance.
The keynote speaker for the ceremony
was retired Mftjor General
Richard E. Davis who now lives in
Knoxville, Tennessee and came to
praise Locklear for his bravery and
his dependability. Davis saM: "To
day is extremely important. I especially
congratulate the Hoke County
School Board for recognizing the
patriotism and heroism of Henry
Locklcar." When Locklear entered
the Army's 101st Airborne Division,
General Davis was his lieutenant.
Later, they went to Vietnam together
where they spent many nights together
in die same foxhole because
Davis was the commander and
Locklear was his radio communicator.
"He became a hero. He became a
great leader because he has character.
That character was built right
here. The lesson is that character
counts." He told the children assembled
there that "You too can be a
hero similar to Henry if you work real
hard."
Henry T. Locklear's decorations
and awards include the Combat Infantry
Badge, Master Parachute
Badges National Defense Service
Medal, four Good Conduct Medals,
the Expert Infantry Badge, the Vietnamese
Cross of Gallantry, two
Bronze Starts for valor and two Silver
Stars, five Vietnam Service Medals,
a Vietnam Campaign Ribbon,
two Army Commendation medals
and a Meritorious Service Medal as
well as the Jungle Expert School
badge, Pathfinder award and Distinguished
Trooper Award. Chairperson
of the Hoke County Commissioners.
L.E. McLaughlin said: "Because
of men Like Henry T. Locklear,
we have freedom today."
Locklear's sister Wanda Caulder
sang "You Are the Wind Beneath My
Wings" to Hemy and Caulder said
that Hemy was always her hero as a
child, filling the role of lather for her
and her brothers, taking them to school
and taking responsibilities like an
adult. She was not abit surprised at his
success. Today Lock]ear operates his
own business and unlike many Vietnam
Veterans, he can still wear his
old uniform. He does that regularly as
an Executive Officer of the Robeson
County Honor Guard which provides
honors a the funerals of veterans in
Robeson, Hoke and other surroundingcounties
Jokingly,HemyLocklear
started his speech by saying: "When I
graduated, I was five-foot-six and
weighed a hundred and twenty-five
pounds. Today, I am five-foot-six and
weigh two hundred (an exaggeration).
Lires been good!" he declared. He
dedicated his award to his mother and
tearfully continued, "fmgivingacopy
of this a ward proclamation back to ten
school," heremaiked, "because 1 never
take nothing I can't give back."
Locklear addressed the students
and told them there were three things
he wanted them to always remember
and promise'to keep. "First, learn to
read. You can do anything and go
anywhere if you learn to read." He
made the children promise to "read
one book for Henry. "-Second, he said,
"Never, ever smoke cigarettes....or
anything else. Don't smoke dope and
don't drink beer. Beer, whiskey and
dope will take your courage away."
The third thing Henry Locklear
asked of the students was to "Never
call a person a dirty namebecause of
their color. You know what kind of
names I'm talking about, he said.
"Don't ever call a person a racial
name. It hurts ana it takes away
from your dignity too." HE also said
that "if you ever get knocked down
in life get back up. Get back up,
knock the dirt off and get going
again." He turned to the teachers
present and reminded them how
harsh discipline was in school was
when he was growing up and that
times had changed. "Educators, you
have to have persuasive leadership
today because they took all your
authority away."
Today, Henry T. Locklear is one
of the most respect members of his
community and is almost embarrassed
to speak about his medals. He
would rather be acting as scoutmaster
or honoring other veterans. The
Certificate of Honor for Heroism
and Leadership from the County
Commissioners reads in part:
"WHEREAS, he has earned the
admiration and high regard of those
- with whom he has come in contact
and the affection of his fellow man
(who are proud to call him'fhend'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 Thurmond
Locklear."
Henry T. Locklear is shown with his sister, Wanda Caulder singing t?
him during Henry T. Locklear Day at South Hoke School in Hoke County.
The event was held Friday, November 8. (Photo by Tom Squier)
v 1 ??I??? ?
Seen'above are Members of the Native American Honor Guard. They
recently performed at the Democratic Rally at the Bill Sapp Recreation
Center in Lumberton. Left to right are Greg Cummings, Jimmy Goins and
Rudy Hammonds. All three men are Veterans of the Vietnam War.
Native American Wild Game
Festival this Weekend
This weekend, experience elements
of a life-style close to the earth
as the North Carolina Indian Cultural
Center presents the 6th annual
Native American Wild Game Festival,
to be held November 15-16 on
the Cultural Center grounds near
Pembroke. The construction of traditional
Native American arts and crafts
will be demonstrated, including pottery.
basket making and hide tanning.
Ancient hunting weapons and
roots will be displayed and demonstrated,
and traditional storytellers
will be relating some of the timeless
stories that have been passed down
for generations.
Some of the presenters included
John "Blackfcather" Jeffries, a respected
elder of the Ocanccchi Band
. of the Saponi Nation. Jeffries will be
givinga demonstration on traditional
methods of bow and arrow construction
and use.
Bill and Susie Gingras will provide
instruction in outdoor survival
techniques and hide tanning. The
couple, who are from the Abenaki
and Cherokee people, have been livingand
teachingtraditional life-styles
for a number of years.
Barbara Locklear of Charlotte will
be on hand fortraditional storytelling
and Lumbcc elder Earl Carter will
discuss tribal legends and history.
Other demonstrators include Carl
and Sharon McCoy (woodcarving
and beadwork); Mary Bell (basket
weaving); Jim and Betty Pierce
(Blowgun, wild game foods, jewelry),
and others.
Foods to be sold at the event include
venison hash, Indian frybrcad,
buffalo burgers, corn, sweet potatoes,
and much more. Admission is
free and campers arc welcome. For
more information call 910-521-2433
The North Carolina Indian Cultural
Center is located near Highway
74and Highway 710, at 1 Recreation
Center Road (State Road 1354) at the
site of the "Strike at the Wind" outdoor
drama.
The Sixth Annual Wild Game
Festival is supported by a grant from
the North Carolina Arts Council.
Rep. Cummings to
Attend Education
Conference
rRANCM M. CUMMINCS
l.utnberton, /VC-Slatc Representative
Frances M. Cummings. an
education committee member of the
National Conference of State Legislatures,
will represent the NC House
of Representatives at a working conference:
Preparing for the 1997 Legislative
Session: Issues for State Education
Leaders in Albuquerque. New
Mexico. The education conference
is sponsored by the State Education
Improvement Partnership and scheduled
for November 17-21, 19%.
Rep. Cummigns said, "The Conference
will focus on three areas
likely to dominate state legislative
education agendas: accountability
finance, and governance. Contcrecs
presentations will highlight what
some states arc doing in these areas
and provide opportunities for participants
to talk about what is really
working. National experts and colleagues
from around the country will
examine current practices and discuss
possible strategies for their
states. Rep Cummings said
Rep. Frances M. Cummings said
she is looking forward to gaining a
wealth of information to be shared
with educational leaders across the
state.
To subscribe
call 521-2826
PlllOil INDIAN
I HERITAGE
SIHfl month
IIM IN NORTH CAROLINA
Governor James B. Hunt Jr. has proclaimed November as Indian Heritage Month in North Carolina. Activities
have been planned to call attention to the more than 10,000-year history of North Carolina Indians, who today
comprise the largest American Indian population of any state east of the Mississippi. The N.C. Commission of Indian
Affairs, the only state government agency charged specifically with advocating for the rights and needs of
the state's 80,155 Indian citizens, is pleased to present the following list of 1996 Indian Heritage Month activities.
Major Activities
November 1 - December 1,1996
"SCATTERED FEATHERS," Photography
Collection of Roger Manley
Metrolina Native American
Association, Charlotte
November 1-30,1996
'Eastern Native Traditions: Past and
Present," An Art Exhibition by Karen
Harley
Guilford Native American Art Gallery
Guilford Native American
Association, Greensboro
November 14,1996
"Native American Issues in Medicine"
ECU School of Medicine, Greenville
Darlene Jacobs, (919) 733-5998
November 15-16,1996
Sixth Annual Native American Wild
Game Festival
N.C. Indian Cultural Center, Pembroke
(910)521-2433
November 16,1996
Native American Gathering
Chesapeake Central Library
Chesapeake, Va.
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Indian Heritage Month in North Carolina
November 1996
November 16,1996
Native American Honoring Ceremony
Capitol Grounds, Raleigh, 3 p.m.
N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs
(919) 733-5998
November 16,1996
Native American Feast
Pre-registration required.
Fee: $6, Children 6-12 years old;
$15, Adults; and Free, 5 and under
3:30 - 8 p.m.
N.C. Museum of History
November 16,1996
Thanksgiving Banquet, 6 p.m.
Raleigh, Location to be announced
Society of Native American Culture,
NCSU, Lia Myott, (919) 832-5229
November 20,1996
"Images From the Past: A Closer
View of Native American Heritage in
North Carolina"
Billy Oliver, Ph.D., Archaeologist and
Laboratory Supervisor for the Office
of State Archaeology
1:15 - 2:45 p.m.
NCSU, McKimmon Center, Raleigh
November 20-22,1996
Open House
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Cultural art displays, powwow films
Waccamaw-Siouan Development
Association, Bolton
November 24,1996
Native American Church Service, 11 a.m.
Winton
Meherrin Indian Tribe
December 4,1996
"Indian Scientist"
Freda-Porter Locklear, Ph.D.,
Consultant to the American Indian
Science and Engineering Society
1:15-2:45 p.m.
NCSU, McKimmon Center, Raleigh
December 11,1996
"Religious Beliefs, History and
Influence"
Jim Chavis, Vice President, Richmond
Technical Community College
1:15-2:45 p.m.
NCSU, McKimmon Center, Raleigh
December 14,1996
Annual Tribal Christmas Open House
N.C. Indian Cultural Center, Pembroke
(910)521-2433
North Carolina Indian Attractions
Enjoy these and other North Carolina Native American attractions, many of which are open throughout the
year: ? '
Charlotte Nature Museum, Charlotte. Study collection of prehistoric and historic Indian materials. Indian
studies programs available.
Cherokee Indian Reservation (Qualla Boundary). Home of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. Largest
community is Cherokee, with Museum of Cherokee Indian, Occanaluftee Indian Village, "Unto These Hills"
outdoor drama (late June - late August), crafts shops, trout fishing.
Greensboro Historical Museum, Greensboro. Extensive displays of Indian, pioneer and war relics.
Guilford Native Art Galleiy, Greensboro. A fine art gallery exhibiting and selling Native American art.
North Carolina Indian Cultural Center, Pembroke. Featuring cultural activities and recreational facilities.
North Carolina Museum of History, Raleigh. Special exhibits, including original Carolina Charter document,
trace North Carolina's history from its beginnings in the 16th century. Copies of John White's sketches,
the earliest illustrations of the land of North Carolina and its inhabitants.
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