Family finds healing through veteran activites

By Pamela G. Dempsey
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — It was 20 years ago when Helen Nez found out her oldest son was killed in a helicopter crash near Japan, but it seems like yesterday.

"She's always thinking, when she's at the house, that he'll come back with open arms and flowers, but nothing," said Tammy Charley, Nez's granddaughter.

U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Edward Steven Eddie was just 28-years old when he died in service.

A biker with this year's Run For the Wall will take Eddie's death certificate and a flag with his name on it across the U.S. to the Veteran Memorial in D.C. so Eddie's name can join the thousands of others on The Wall.

"Every time we see his name on The Wall, it will mean something," Charley said.

Although the Chichiltah family never received Eddie's remains, they held a memorial service for him and bought a headstone for an empty grave.

Charley said her uncle helped out his family a lot.

"May is the hardest time for us," she said. "(My grandmother) still feels the same. She really wants him to be back and hopes sometimes he's out there."

It wasn't until another community member, Harvey Williams, began to stir up recognition for Eddie that his family began to find peace.

Williams suggested the family get involved with veterans' affairs and found a sponsor to add Eddie's name to The Wall.

With Williams encouragement, the family now attends veterans' meeting and parades to show support for others as well as honor Eddie.

"It seems like every time we're doing (something like this), we're healing from this," Charley said.

Nez still carries around an American flag. She buys anything red, white, and blue. Anytime she sees a young man in a service uniform, she thinks of her son.

Charley said adding Eddie's name to The Wall is an honor for Nez.

"She'll feel happy when this is being done for her," Charley said.

— To contact reporter Pam Dempsey call (505) 879-1707 or email pamelagdempsey@msn.com