Photo courtesy of A.D.N.
Dear tribal member shareholders and friends,
It’s with great sorrow that we write you today. On Monday, Alaskans across the state learned the tragic news that Marine Corps Corporal Gregory Fleury was killed in a helicopter accident over Afghanistan. While we mourn the loss of any Alaska-based servicemen and women, this hits particularly close to home. Cpl. Fleury was one of our brothers in the Native community and a Sealaska tribal member shareholder descendant. Cpl. Fleury was the son of Sealaska tribal member shareholder Chris Flygare.
According to news reports, Cpl. Fleury was born in Sitka and graduated from high school in Anchorage. Fleury enlisted in the Marines on June 6, 2005, and was awarded several medals during his service, including the Iraqi Campaign Medal and Good Conduct Medal, according to the Marine Corps. Fleury became interested in being a Marine in high school when he joined the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, according to his grandfather. Read the complete Anchorage Daily News story here.
We dedicate this special edition of the Sealaska eNewsletter to Cpl. Fleury. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family.
Chris E. McNeil, Jr.
Sealaska Corporation
President & CEO
According to www.marines.com Semper Fidelis distinguishes the Marine Corps bond from any other. It goes beyond teamwork – it is a brotherhood and lasts for life. Semper Fidelis is Latin for “always faithful.” This became the Marine Corps motto in 1883.
Sealaska is proud of our Native men and women serving our country and we want to honor our military shareholders and descendants in our newsletters.
Alaska Native and American Indians are the largest per capita group serving in the armed forces. According to a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 2006 report, 16 American Indians were awarded the military’s highest honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor, prior to World War I. Approximately 12,000 Alaska Native and American Indians served during World War I. During the Korean War, former Colorado Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell was among notable American Indians serving during the war.
At Sealaska, we cherish the core Native value of Haa Latseen, or “our strength.” We respect and appreciate the men and women of our active military and veterans who embody Latseen. Your strength and leadership inspire and lift us up.
Sealaska recognizes and honors Alaska Native men and women serving our country by publishing stories on our website at www.sealaska.com and in the Shareholder newsletter. If you are in the armed forces, or know of a tribal member shareholder or descendant who is, we want to hear from you! Please e-mail the following information, along with a current photo, to be recognized in future Sealaska publications.
- Full name
- Age
- Hometown
- Clan
- Military rank
- Where you are stationed
- Why you joined the armed forces
President Obama signed into law the 2010 Fiscal Year Defense Authorization bill on Wednesday October 28, 2009. In part, the federal legislation resumes retirement benefits for members of the Alaska Territorial Guard also called ATG.
Sealaska tribal member shareholder and World War II veteran Sigurd H. Edwards was a member of the ATG. He was formally discharged from the ATG in a ceremony in 2007 in his hometown of Yakutat. Edwards joined the Territorial Guard on March 10, 1943, when he was 16.
To view images from the 2007 ceremony click here
For additional information about the 2010 Defense Authorization Bill click here
