THE SACRED PURIFICATION CEREMONY

The traditional ceremony was performed by the Blackhorse Pow Wow Counsel of Taylorville Illinois.

The ceremony performers were

Fred "Blackhorse" Dubay of the Kiowa Bation

Jerry "Gray Wolf" Mason - Commanche

Ken "Swift Eagle" Keith - Lakota

Paul Vaughn was the oldest veteran living n La Grange and was honored.

Paul Vaughn U.S. Army Staff Sergeant was in the first group to leave Lewis County for WWII. He was involved in the Calvary, then later sent to Ft. Leonard Wood to activate the 75th Division. They were sent overseas and Paul was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge on December 24th 1944. He received a purple heart. Upon recovery he then was involved in the crossing of the Ruhr. Paul was wounded a second time and entered several hospitals before being honorably discharged in 1945.

Paul Vaughn

Betty Vaughn and others

Blackhorse

Gray Wolf

Swift Eagle

Lighting the pipe

The ceremony

Singing

the setup