West Point observes National American Indian Heritage Month

By Eric S. Bartelt PV Managing Editor Date: Wednesday, Nov 15, 2023 Time: 13:27 EST

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The U.S. Military Academy Equal Opportunity Office hosted the 2023 National American Indian Heritage Month Nov. 14 at the West Point Club. The theme of the event was “Tribal Nations Soaring to New Heights,” with the guest speaker, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Cook Jr., speaking about his experiences growing up in Buffalo, New York, and as a member of the Seneca Nation in the Cattaraugus Territory of the Snipe Clan. He also talked about his 27 years of active-duty service.
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The U.S. Military Academy Equal Opportunity Office hosted the 2023 National American Indian Heritage Month Nov. 14 at the West Point Club. The theme of the event was “Tribal Nations Soaring to New Heights,” with the guest speaker, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Cook Jr., speaking about his experiences growing up in Buffalo, New York, and as a member of the Seneca Nation in the Cattaraugus Territory of the Snipe Clan. He also talked about his 27 years of active-duty service.
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The U.S. Military Academy Equal Opportunity Office hosted the 2023 National American Indian Heritage Month Nov. 14 at the West Point Club. The theme of the event was “Tribal Nations Soaring to New Heights,” with the guest speaker, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Cook Jr., speaking about his experiences growing up in Buffalo, New York, and as a member of the Seneca Nation in the Cattaraugus Territory of the Snipe Clan. He also talked about his 27 years of active-duty service.
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The U.S. Military Academy Equal Opportunity Office hosted the 2023 National American Indian Heritage Month Nov. 14 at the West Point Club. The theme of the event was “Tribal Nations Soaring to New Heights,” with the guest speaker, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Cook Jr., speaking about his experiences growing up in Buffalo, New York, and as a member of the Seneca Nation in the Cattaraugus Territory of the Snipe Clan. He also talked about his 27 years of active-duty service.
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The U.S. Military Academy Equal Opportunity Office hosted the 2023 National American Indian Heritage Month Nov. 14 at the West Point Club. The theme of the event was “Tribal Nations Soaring to New Heights,” with the guest speaker, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Cook Jr., speaking about his experiences growing up in Buffalo, New York, and as a member of the Seneca Nation in the Cattaraugus Territory of the Snipe Clan. He also talked about his 27 years of active-duty service.
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The U.S. Military Academy Equal Opportunity Office hosted the 2023 National American Indian Heritage Month Nov. 14 at the West Point Club. The theme of the event was “Tribal Nations Soaring to New Heights,” with the guest speaker, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Cook Jr., speaking about his experiences growing up in Buffalo, New York, and as a member of the Seneca Nation in the Cattaraugus Territory of the Snipe Clan. He also talked about his 27 years of active-duty service.
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The U.S. Military Academy Equal Opportunity Office hosted the 2023 National American Indian Heritage Month Nov. 14 at the West Point Club. The theme of the event was “Tribal Nations Soaring to New Heights,” with the guest speaker, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Cook Jr., speaking about his experiences growing up in Buffalo, New York, and as a member of the Seneca Nation in the Cattaraugus Territory of the Snipe Clan. He also talked about his 27 years of active-duty service.

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The U.S. Military Academy Equal Opportunity Office hosted the 2023 National American Indian Heritage Month Nov. 14 at the West Point Club.

The theme of the event was “Tribal Nations Soaring to New Heights,” with the guest speaker, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Cook Jr., speaking about his experiences growing up in Buffalo, New York, and as a member of the Seneca Nation in the Cattaraugus Territory of the Snipe Clan. He also talked about his 27 years of active-duty service that included a number of combat tours to Operation Just Cause in Panama, operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Middle East, and the Global War on Terrorism in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006-08.

Cook held every enlisted leadership position from team leader to command sergeant major while earning two Bronze Stars, a Legion of Merit and the Bronze Engineer de Fleury Medal. After returning home to his tribal Seneca Cattaraugus Territory in 2017, Cook earned a post commander position with the American Legion Iroquois Post 1587 where he contributes and plays an active role in his community.

Every November, the Department of Defense joins the nation in celebrating National American Indian Heritage Month. The event is also known in some circles as the American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

It’s an opportunity to recognize the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, stories and important contributions of Native American and Alaska Native peoples. There are more than 9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives living in the United States today.