Choctaw Nation Lauded by Senate for
Support of National Guard and Reserve
The Choctaw Nation was honored
by the Oklahoma State Senate Thursday for its
outstanding support of the National Guard and
Reserve as well as veterans. Sen. Jay
Paul Gumm, a Democrat from Durant, was author
of Senate Resolution 48, praising the tribe
which was the recipient of the 2008 Pro Patria
Award—the highest honor bestowed for support
of military men and women. The Choctaw Nation
was also awarded the 2008 Secretary of Defense
Employer Support Freedom Award.
“Oklahomans who serve our country do so
at tremendous personal expense and risk. The
Choctaw Nation has gone above and beyond to
support those men and women,” Gumm said.
“They are a shining example of how employers
and communities can go that extra mile for our
military personnel.”
The Choctaw Nation provides pay differential,
30 days paid military leave per year, insurance,
care packages and phone cards as well as equipment,
including special knives and walkie-talkies
which were sent to the 95th Reservists so that
transport teams could communicate during low
visibility.
“The Choctaw Nation has long supported
the defense of our nation, with citizens fighting
for America in World War I who became the original
code talkers—and this was at a time when
they did not even have full citizenship rights
within the United States,” Gumm said.
The Choctaw Tribal Council also funds a Veterans
Advocacy Program, an annual Veterans Ceremony,
and has provided property and funding for a
Veterans Cemetery. The tribe also purchased
an ultrasound machine for detecting embedded
shrapnel in wounded soldiers, and has provided
emergency assistance for families while military
members are deployed.
Chief Gregory E. Pyle said it was an honor to
appear before the Senate, and noted the Choctaw
nation supported both Choctaw and non-Choctaw
troops and alike.
“You can’t ask any more from the
veterans,” Pyle said. “They leave
their families, their wives and their children
and sometime they don’t return home, so
you can’t do too much for them.”
For more information contact:
Sen. Gumm's Office - 405-521-5586