Morongo Band of Mission Indians unveil national memorial to tribal veterans

Traci Kratzer
Record Gazette Staff Writer

To honor the men and woman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians who have served in the armed forces, several members of the tribal community and dignitaries from the city and county level gathered on Veterans Day to celebrate the unveiling of a new memorial in the courtyard of the tribe's administrative complex.

This is the first known national memorial to tribal veterans in the country, according to the tribe.

"American Indians have fought and died for this country since the Revolution and yet there is no national memorial in the United States that recognizes their service or the ultimate price they paid in defense of the nation," said Morongo Tribal Vice Chairman Maurice Lyons, who spearheaded the effort on behalf of the Tribal Council.

The memorial features five columns representing each branch of the military and one representing the tribe, encircling a water fountain. The circle holds a great significance in American culture as many tribal rituals are held in a circle. Each column has a cast aluminum band with a weave pattern as a representation of the Morongo tribe's heritage of basket weaving. Topping the memorial is an eagle, a national symbol, which is closely associated with the military and American Indian culture.

"We felt that we should have our own veteran's memorial so that our young people could learn from and take pride in the sacrifices of their fellow tribal members," Lyons said. "As the 'first American,' defending this nation is defending the land that is our heritage."

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Set at the foot of the beautiful San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Mountains, the Morongo Indian Reservation spans more than 35,000 acres and overlooks the vistas of the Banning Pass. Resilient and resourceful, the Morongo tribe has had to overcome many adversities.

The Morongo Reservation was one of nine small reservations set aside by President Grant by executive order in 1865. In 1983, the path of Morongo's future changed when tribal members started a modest bingo hall. From this building evolved one of the oldest and most successful Indian gaming facilities in California. The present $250 million destination which opened in late 2004, the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa, is one of the largest tribal gaming facilities in the nation.

With its diversification into non-gaming businesses, the tribe has become the largest private sector employer in the Banning-Beaumont region and is a major contributor to the Coachella Valley economy. The tribe now employs more than 3,000 people. An independent study reported that the tribe's gaming and non-gaming businesses would generate more than $2.8 billion into the regional economy by 2008. The tribe pays payroll taxes, unemployment benefits, employee benefits and provides health programs. More than two thirds of the Morongo workforce is composed of residents from the Banning Pass and desert cities.

On both community outreach and social education fronts, Morongo has taken a leadership role. The tribe gives generously on an annual basis to hundreds of local community groups. Today, the region's governments, businesses, community leaders and groups regard Morongo as a friend and partner. The Morongo tribe's progress is a case history that illustrates how combining a pro-active tribal government with sound economic development can enable tribes to turn their lives and communities around and dramatically impact the surrounding economic region.

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians is actively working with government and community leaders to explore the best paths of future development and planning that will yield a better quality of life for this generation and for generations to come.

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