THS honors deceased soldier, classmate

By Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

TOHATCHI — This year's high school graduation honored a member of the Class of 2001 who died earlier this year on her way back to her unit in Iraq and a member of the Class of 2005 who died two years ago. Both passed away in traffic accidents in the Tohatchi High School attendance area.

Also honored Friday night in Cougar Stadium before an estimated 2,000 people was an English teacher and coach who is returning east after eight years.

The Class of 2005 also is unique in that its valedictorian and salutatorian are both children of Navajo Nation Council delegates.

Police chaplain Milt Shirleson led the tribute to Bernice Yazzie of the Class of 2001, with her father Benson Yazzie carrying the American flag in the seven-member Tohatchi Veterans Organization's color guard. The guard also carried the New Mexico, Navajo Nation, and black and white POW-MIA "You Are Not Forgotten" flags, with a commander and two riflemen as escorts.

Kordell Jim, noted for his humor and music, died about two years ago in a tragic two-vehicle multiple-fatality collision near the county line about a dozen miles north of the stadium. He would have been the 95th member of the Class of 2005.

Missing man chair
A lone, empty chair was placed high in the unoccupied cross-field stands as a half-dozen classmates reminisced about his great ability as a peacemaker in groups. This was a talent praised by his stepmother, Kathleen Spencer, in a brief and emotional response as her husband accepted a special plaque from Jay Nez, Barren Yazzie, Marty Skeets, Armondo Kaye, Ernest Yazzie and Aaron Wood. The huge frame held Kordell's gown and sash and was signed by the entire class and several teachers.

Then one of his favorite songs by Pink Floyd, "Wish You Were Here," was played.

Salutatorian Orson John is the son of Norman John II (Twin Lakes Chapter) and his wife Marilyn, while Valedictorian Sara Johnson is the daughter of Johnny Naize (Nazlini, Tselani-Cottonwood) and Louise Johnson.

After eight years as an English teacher, founder of the honors program, cross country and volleyball coach, Chad Rucker is leaving to go back east to Pennsylvania and the class chose him as the commencement speaker.

In a speech filled with humor, Rucker told the audience this was the night for the students "to strut your stuff for the camera night" and gave them a look into the future by presenting an annual review of his eight years at THS, a "scrapbook of memories."

Step back
To gain perspective, he suggested taking a step back, as he was doing, to see where to go in the future. He found he learned from the kids as he taught them. But growth cannot happen without change, he added.

Class leaders then presented him a traditional Navajo leaders blanket and draped it over his shoulders, illustrating one of his last comments, that Tohatchi is a community with strong traditions. Many of the young ladies wore traditional dresses and the white-yarned hair knot.

Salutatorian John urged everyone to work hard to succeed and thus make their dreams a reality. He praised his father in saying that he believed the class's members have the confidence in themselves to accomplish their dreams for themselves, something "even politicians can do."

Valedictorian Johnson centered her talk around the class motto, urging everyone "to cherish your memories because the future is still to come." The class selected as its motto, "We did what he had to do and now it's done, but the future is still to come."

That future, she said, will include prejudice that Indians belong only on reservations. "Stand up to them. Tell them you made it, you did it for yourself and you succeeded. There is a purpose and mission in life and that is to follow the right path," she said, adding"Walk in beauty, always. This has been passed to us from generation to generation."

Top 10 Medals went to Jayme Laughlin, Marcus Brown, Cynthia Yazzie the younger sister of the deceased soldier, Lynelle Smith, Karen Kinsel, Verrica Livingston, Jessica Dennis, Stuart Arviso, Orson John and Sara Johnson.

Gallup-McKinley School District board members Johnny R. Thompson and Secretary Andreanne Sloan awarded ceremonial diplomas. The graduates picked up their real diplomas afterward in the library as the flares outlining the "T" on a hill across U.S. 491 burned red into the night like votive candles in a church.

— To contact reporter Jim Maniaci, telephone (505) 371-5443.