Nov. 29 commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre near Eads, Colo., committed in 1864.
Col. John Chivington led a force of U.S. Army in an early morning sneak attack on an encampment of peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho Indian people, consisting of children, women, elderly and men.
Indian leader Black Kettle had raised a 33-star U.S. flag and a white flag, to indicate their acquiescence and peaceful intent. It did no good; the attack commenced anyway. Over 200 Indian people were killed. A very few children hid or managed to escape. The killing and rampage lasted several hours. Trophies ... were taken and displayed later.
The Indian people had been told by the U.S. to camp in this spot where they'd be safe.
Two soldiers refused to fire on the Indian people, and are still commemorated by Indian people.
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Someone asked how long Sand Creek would be remembered. They replied, "How long will 9-11 be remembered?"
Recently our community commemorated the Bataan Death March of World War II, where many U.S. soldiers were taken prisoner, forced to march while being abused and killed. We can't thank those soldiers enough for what they endured.
Next year might be a good time to also commemorate all the other death marches. Many have heard of the Cherokee Trail of Tears. Ancestral Cherokee lands were "coveted" by whites, and President Andrew Jackson agreed to force the Cherokee west to Oklahoma. Between 4,000 and 8,000 died.
But there were many other Indian people's Trails of Tears, including one involving Ojibwe at Sandy Lake near McGregor. Hundreds died. Some southwest Apaches were marched to one relocation camp, then later marched back. More died.
The Bataan soldiers had a thankful advantage of not being forced to march with their children, wives, and elderly.
A. Martin
Merrifield
