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Richard Ackley Jr.
Special to the Forest Republican

A group of nearly 50 people were drawn together to the penetrating beat of the Sokaogon Mole Lake drum in honor and celebration of all veteran’s both past and present, last Tuesday morning Nov. 11. A traditional feast of venison and wild rice inside the Mole Lake conference center brought comfort to the hearts and minds of the tribal veterans in attendance, spanning World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm and the War in Iraq.

Mole Lake veteran Pete McGeshick, Jr. commanded silence from the group as all waited quietly for a telephone call, via a cell phone, coming in from his grandson Troy Hill now in Germany who has completed a tour on the battle front.

Veteran’s Day has deep meaning for this small Native American community of some 450 people, as many of the elder veteran’s have now passed on and spiritual leader Fred Ackley, Jr. spoke intensely about this community’s dedication to serving our country in the Armed Forces. Ackley said, “Native people have always been active in serving our country and as anishinaabe (Ojibwe) people we show our honor for our nation by serving when ever asked to serve.”

The Sokaogon Singers played six different songs during the gathering with intermittent stories from Fred Ackley speaking highly of the unselfish deeds of his father Fred “Fritz” Ackley and other Mole Lake veterans long since gone.

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