Painting Tecumseh

As a parent, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Naval Academy as a guest of my daughter, class of 2015, on several occasions. The only disappointing scene that I ever observed at the academy was the clownlike paint that was placed on the statue of the warrior Tecumseh.

As I understand it the Tecumseh statue was actually modeled after the leader of the Delaware tribe, Tamanend. My daughter’s mother is full blood Cherokee, and I am half Choctaw by blood. We are both very conservative, registered Republicans and hardly overly sensitive snowflakes.

I am a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, having served almost seven years active and 20 years in the reserve. My daughter is currently serving in her fifth year as a Naval Surface Warfare officer and she is darn sure no snowflake either. But she is and was raised to be very proud of her Native heritage.

I read alumni David Winters’ letter: “The chief was annually dignified with war paint, as a warrior would properly desire for his memorial and memoir” (The Capital, Dec. 10)

Well, I respectfully disagree with his statement.

I did not observe the Tecumseh statue painted with war paint, but I concede maybe he was from time to time.. What I observed numerous times was Tecumseh’s statue painted like a clown and I saw nothing that was dignified to Tecumseh’s memorial. Tecumseh was a warrior for his people fighting for his homeland no different than we Natives now fight as U. S. Citizens for our homeland.

I know all alumni would be offended, as I would be if I witnessed a hero such as Adm. William Stockdale or Adm. Davy Jones or any other hero’s statue on the Academy’s yard being painted with clown paint.

I admire and respect the academy’s traditions, but I just believe the painting of warriors and heroes to look like clowns is not a tradition worthy of the high standards of the Naval Academy.

DOUG DRY

Tahlequah, Oklahoma