Wednesday, November 9, 2011

"A Pittance of Time". How the Oneida Indian Nation helped George Washington.

Several years back a good friend of mine, Susan Gertson from Eagle Lake, Texas sent me this great song/video by Terry Kelly, and on or around Veterans Day since then I make sure I post it for all to enjoy. This Veterans Day 11/11/11 at approximately 1100 hours (11AM), please take a brief  couple of moments to remember and reflect on those who gave some or all for the freedoms we have today.


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One of the United States first allies, The Oneida Indian Nation.













For the past 10 years or so, The Oneida Indian Nations Turning Stone Casino & Resort in Oneida, NY holds a completely free Veterans Day Appreciation Breakfast open to all Veterans and their families. This breakfast isn't a standard buffet type serve yourself meal that one might expect, it's a sit down affair and meals are served personally by almost 100 servers. The meals being served are top shelf as well, consisting of various fruit cups/appetizers to Eggs Benedict and fine meats.

BTW, when this Appreciation Breakfast was first begun, only about 60-70 folks first attended. Today, this meal takes their largest Diningroom and serving staff in that well over 500 Vets and their family members now attend!!

A fact that this Veteran didn't know until about 6-7 years ago was that when George Washington and his men were starving and freezing at Valley Forge, PA, an Oneida Nation Clan mother and about 11 "braves" walked the 220 miles through deep snow, blizzards and swollen rivers/creeks to bring them very badly needed corn, food and blankets to help them. Washington was known to have said that had this brave and generous act not occurred, we might have a much different history today and would probably be speaking "the Kings English".

Over the history of our country, The Oneida's have a rich and lengthy tradition of having many men serving in our nation's militarys and Navys from The Revolutionary War to present day. Thier involvement in our nations history is really quite interesting.

The size of the Turning Stone Casino rivals any other native american casino's anywhere in the nation. There are several Pro Golf Courses on Casino property where Tiger Woods and other well known pro golfers have competed. The entertainment theaters book big name entertainers. About a month ago, the wife and myself saw Bill O'Reilly, and are looking forward to a "Four Seasons" show coming in December.

Now Sir, If'n you and the Mrs. (or maybe not the Mrs.) are looking for a place to spend a great weekend, The Turning Stone Casino/Resort is your place.

4 comments:

Howard said...

Good to see you back Cookie. I really missed to good laughs and fun reads on your blog. Im heading you way next summer, my son will be playing ball in Cooperstown. Any recommended must sees other than the Hall of Fame??

Howie/SS

Unknown said...

Very nice. It's great to see this being done. Here in my region it is known how the Iraquoise helped Washington as well...only to be robbed and transfered west later on.

sig94 said...

Cookie - you haven't been writing in a while. Yawl come back now.

sig94 said...

Cookie - did you ever see the submariners verses in the NAvy Hymn?

Lord God, our power evermore,
Whose arm doth reach the ocean floor,
Dive with our men beneath the sea;
Traverse the depths protectively.
O hear us when we pray, and keep
Them safe from peril in the deep.