Chickasaw veterans gather for annual conference at WinStar

THACKERVILLE, Okla. — Chickasaw veterans gathered June 5 at WinStar Resort and Convention Center for the ninth annual Chickasaw Veterans Conference. Veterans enjoyed a day of fellowship, recognition, and honoring the service and sacrifices of Chickasaw warriors.

The conference included the posting of the colors by the Chickasaw Honor Guard, recognition of veterans from each branch of military service, a keynote presentation, updates from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and informational booths from Chickasaw Nation programs and services, as well as veteran-focused organizations.

During his welcome address, Chickasaw Nation Governor Emeritus Bill Anoatubby spoke about the important role warriors have played throughout Chickasaw history and the respect the Chickasaw people continue to hold for veterans.

“As Chickasaws, we have a deep and inviting respect for Chickasaw warriors,”

Governor Emeritus Bill Anoatubby said. “Our traditions, our history, our very way of life—we have always placed great value on the role of the warrior.”

He also thanked veterans for their service and sacrifice.

“We recognize the strength, the courage and honor it takes to put on a uniform, and to pledge yourself in service of others and to lay your life on a line in defense of freedom. You all embody these principles,” Governor Emeritus Bill Anoatubby said.

“Your service, your sacrifices and your stories are woven into the very fabric of the tribe and of this nation. You hold a distinct place that deserves our utmost admiration.”

For many attendees, the conference is as much about reconnecting with fellow veterans as it is learning about available resources.

Gail Glase, who served in the U.S. Army from 1974 to 1976, said she has attended every Chickasaw Veterans Conference.

“It’s just an honor to be a member,” Glase said of the Chickasaw Warrior Society. “I love my country so much, and I love my veterans so much.”

Glase joined the Army at 18 years old and was stationed in Germany during her service.

“I was a little Chickasaw girl from Stonewall, America,” she said. “I'd never seen the world, and in the Army, you got to do that.”

She remains proud of her military accomplishments, including earning the Army Commendation Medal.

“I was very honored to have received it,” she said.

U.S. Army veteran EJ Homer said one of the most meaningful aspects of the conference is the opportunity to gather with fellow Chickasaw veterans who understand one another’s experiences.

Homer served in the Vietnam War and recalled the uncertainty veterans faced returning home. He said he worried he would not be accepted back to the country he served, as many Americans did not support U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

“Coming back from Vietnam, one of my greatest fears was walking down the gangway off the airplane, and then somebody would spit on me,” Homer said.

While that never happened to him personally, he recalled many Vietnam veterans returned home during a difficult time in American history.

“There wasn’t anybody to welcome us home,” he said.

For Homer, the Chickasaw Veterans Conference helps provide some of the recognition many veterans never received.

“This is a part of that welcoming,” he said.

Marine Corps veteran Harold Stick, who later served in the Oklahoma National Guard and completed more than 32 years of combined military service, has attended every conference since the beginning.

Stick said one of the greatest benefits of the conference is the opportunity to reconnect with fellow veterans.

“It’s just getting to meet the people,” he said. “Just being around the veterans.”
During his military service in Vietnam, Stick was able to reconnect with his younger brother, Martin, who was also serving overseas.

Before deploying, Stick promised his mother he would check on him. Years later, he still remembers the moment they unexpectedly crossed paths.

“He says, ‘What are you doing here?’” Stick recalled. “I said, ‘I told Mom I’d come check on you.’”

Stick received the Chickasaw Nation Silver Feather Award in 2019, an honor designated to Chickasaws who have committed their lives to the presentation and preservation of Chickasaw culture, language and way of life. Stick is fluent in Chikashshanompa' (the Chickasaw language) and is passionate about sharing his love for Chickasaw culture with others.

Governor Emeritus Bill Anoatubby said Chickasaw veterans continue to inspire future generations through their service and example.

“The seeds of strength, courage, honor and resilience you have sown through your service are growing in the young men and women of the Chickasaw Nation today,” he said. “They look up to you and they learn from you, and your legacy will continue to live on for many generations of Chickasaws.”

Throughout the conference, veterans and their families shared stories, visited with fellow service members and reflected on a tradition of servant leadership continuing to hold a special place within the Chickasaw Nation.

“You’re living testaments to the thousands of men and women who have sacrificed their comfort, safety and even their lives so that we may enjoy our liberties and the benefits of our country,” Governor Emeritus Bill Anoatubby said.

Videos of speakers, panels and special presentations from the ninth annual Chickasaw Veterans Conference are available now at Chickasaw.net/VetConf.

For more information about resources for Chickasaw veterans and their families, contact Chickasaw Nation Veterans Services at (580) 272-2550 or visit Chickasaw.net/Veterans.