The Command Post - Iraq - Goodbye Lori, and Thanks

April 12, 2003

Goodbye Lori, and Thanks

As hundreds of people gathered to mourn Private Lori Piestewa, the first US servicewoman killed in the Iraq war, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano called for the renaming of a prominent landmark and a highway to honour the Hopi Tribe member.
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Among the 2,000 at the service were the 23-year-old single mother's four-year-old son and three-year-old daughter, along with Piestewa's parents, Percy and Terry Piestewa.

Lori's parents have been taking care of her kids while Mom was away - and they live in a Trailer. So you know what to do. To help you out, here's an item from the Arizona Daily Sun

The Hopi Tribe Monday established a fund to benefit Pfc. Lori Piestewa's two children and gave an address for those who wish to send their condolences to the family of the slain Hopi soldier. "We've just been inundated with tons of requests from people in the community wanting to contribute in some form or another," said Vanessa Charles, spokeswoman for the Hopi Tribe.
Donations to the "Lori Piestewa Memorial Fund" can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank. The number of the Piestewa account is 0464633783.
Piestewa, 23, has two children, a boy 4 and a girl 3. Piestewa grew up in the Hopi village of Lower Moenkopi and was a graduate of Tuba City High School.
She was a soldier in the 507th Maintenance Company out of Fort Bliss, Texas, that was ambushed March 23. The Department of Defense notified the Piestewa family Friday evening that the young soldier was among eight 507th soldiers killed in action in the ambush.
Charles said donations to the memorial fund "will go directly into a fund for the children."
Calls offering financial assistance to help the Piestewa children have come from across Arizona and the nation, said Charles.
Anyone who wishes to send a card or note of condolence to the Piestewa family may send them to the Hopi Tribe, P.O. Box 123, Kykotsmovi, AZ., 86039. Please write "Lori Piestewa" on the outside of the envelope, Charles said.
Cards and notes may also be sent to the Piestewa family in care of the Tuba City Unified School District, P.O. Box 67, Tuba City, AZ 86045.

From the other side of the world, here in Canberra, Australia, "Goodbye, Lori. And Thanks."

Posted By Alan E Brain at April 12, 2003 10:34 PM | TrackBack

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Sign me up. Come on folks. She gave the last full measure of devotion. We can at least try to see her children are taken care of. Contact the nearest Wells Fargo Bank. They have set up a fund. www.wellsfargo.com for the bank near you.

Oh yeah I forgot. Down with corporate greed!

Posted by: mrmike at April 12, 2003 10:41 PM

Maybe someone should set up a PayPal "catchment" and send it on after it reaches a certain amount. Lots of people might use such a convenient method for donating.

Posted by: glennmark at April 12, 2003 11:35 PM

I think helping people is great, hearts should be opened. But why just her family? There's about 100 other U.S. military families and 50 or so British.

Posted by: Christopher Rake at April 13, 2003 12:06 AM

I don't know that any of the other killed were single parents, or from such a relatively impoverished situation.

Posted by: Timothy at April 13, 2003 12:23 AM

Christopher, I've contributed a substantial sum to the US Army Relief Fund http://www.aerhq.org/ but I'll be contributing $500 to the memorial fund on Monday. If you don't like that, please feel free to contribute yourself.

Posted by: Richard at April 13, 2003 12:25 AM

As an Arizonan living one mile from the peak to be renamed (currently Squaw Peak), I am strongly against this renaming nonsense (plus it is against federal law until she has been dead 4 years). Outsiders don't realize that this is simply playing into a long running battle of political correctness, where some people want to change the name of Squaw peak, while most of the rest of us want to leave it as it has been for many decades.

And, there have been other Arizonans killed in the conflict who are not being so honored.

I honor her sacrifice. She gave her all. But she shouldn't have.

A single parent shouldn't be in the service and in harms way! Now we have two orphans. Great!

Give money to the fund. He kids need it. But don't "honor her sacrifice" by renaming our landmarks and in the process ignoring all the other heroes.

Posted by: John Moore (Useful Fools) at April 13, 2003 12:42 AM

I wish there were some way to know that the money, once given, would be used wisely for the children. One *hopes* the grandparents would respect the money and use it to make the kids' lives better over the long haul. But, after the Red Cross did....ah, things people had a hard time respecting, with the 9/11 funds that people gave so generously, I'm afraid I'm cynical.

Posted by: Angela at April 13, 2003 01:03 AM

"Outsiders don't realize that this is simply playing into a long running battle of political correctness"

I don't believe that it is "outsiders" who are suggesting this be renamed.

Posted by: Wallace at April 13, 2003 01:09 AM

No, but it is outsiders who are reading this and getting caught up in the emotions.

Posted by: John Moore (Useful Fools) at April 13, 2003 01:26 AM

So this is how the American terrorism funding works!

Posted by: eddie at April 13, 2003 01:53 AM

She meant everything to us if you know her personally........ She's my hero in our hearts......She fought for what she believed in...........We all loved her...........and will always keep her in our hearts

Posted by: Alicia at April 25, 2003 12:47 AM

When Lori Piestewa was first listed as missing in action, our family prayed for her. When she was listed as a casualty, prayers were offered for her brave spirit. I have children in Lori's age group and I am also from a reservation. I know how the young people are honored who choose to serve our country in the military. In the photos of Lori and her family, I saw the closeness and respect of her family for her. The mom and dad of Lori gave the ultimate sacrifice to this country. You can tell from the photos that Lori was a strong, intelligent, get the job done kind of person, a model soldier. Our family mourns with her family. The picture of Lori and her little boy is heartbreaking. I am sure her spirit surrounds her family and children.

Posted by: marilyn at April 25, 2003 04:23 AM