Road Sign Dedication

The Thursday before the dedication had Paul Glup and Adam Bialas installing the Pawnee Scouts Memorial Highway sign. Two signs were placed, with this one by Genoa and the other by Fullerton. 

The dedication was on June 12^th, 2021.  It started with the Pawnee visiting the Nance County Veteran’s Memorial and Resource Center opened by Dennis McCoig and Jon Epley. The Pawnee were impressed with the facility. A lunch in the Genoa Park was attended by the following Pawnee: Head Chief of the Pawnee, Pat LeadingFox and his wife Vicky, Band chief Tim Jim and daughter Micah Jim, Tweety Bowen, Band Chief Morgan LittleSun and son Cody, Herb Adson, Cultural Resource Division of the Pawnee Nation, his wife Kim and son Robert Adson, Band chief Adrian Spottedhorsechief, Band Chief Matt Reed who is also the Historic Preservation Officer and his brother Todd Vetter.  

The dedication started with a welcome to honored Pawnee, dignitaries and everyone. Herb Adson introduced the Pawnee. Other dignitaries introduced were Cherrie Beam-Callaway, who had managed Pahuk, a sacred site for the Pawnee near Fremont and Ronnie O’Brien who oversees the  Pawnee Seed Preservation Project in Nebraska. Many other leaders of history and Pawnee relations were present but not introduced included: Dr. Margaret Jacobs & Kevin Abourezk (co-directors of Reconciliation Rising), Tom Martens (Buffalo Bill and North Brothers historian), Tom Bryan (President of Nebraska Archaeological Society), Bill Bolte (Merrick County Historical Society), Jerry Kneifel ( Platte County Historical Society), and a film crew from News Channel Nebraska CNC. 

The Creator was thanked for blessing the day with such nice weather.

A brief history of the project was given by Nancy Carlson. The beginnings of this day started a year ago when Nick Moser and Jerry Carlson read about the dedication of the Medal of Honor Highway. A Pawnee Scout was included in the 73 people who were honored. Nick & Jerry felt that all Pawnee Scouts should be honored so they started the process. They asked the Pawnee Nation Business Council for permission, which was granted and encouraged. The section of Highway 22 from near Genoa to near Fullerton was selected because the Pawnee Scouts were recruited from the Reservation Village. This village was located where the dedication took place. The named section of Highway 22 ends north of Fullerton near a Pawnee sacred site and many older Pawnee Villages were located along this section of highway. With the highway section defined, the Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation was asked to be the sponsoring organization. Resolutions of support were obtained from the Nance County Commissioners, the City of Genoa, the Nance County Veteran’s Memorial and Resource Center and the Pawnee Nation.  The application was submitted to the Nebraska State Highway Commission where it was approved and Governor Ricketts signed it in January.

Head Chief Pat LeadingFox lead a blessing in both Pawnee and English.

James Kindig, District 4 Commissioner for the Nebraska State Department of Roads, addressed the group giving a brief history on highway naming.

The next speaker was Patricia LaBounty, Union Pacific Railroad Museum Director. She stressed the high regard with which the UPRR holds the Pawnee Scouts.  She had given a photograph of the UPRR cars with the Pawnee Scouts who guarded it. This photo was later given to the Pawnee for their museum in Pawnee Oklahoma.

Four songs were sung and drummed, including a flag song and Warrior song, by Herb, Kim and Robert Adson, Pat LeadingFox and Adrian Spottedhorsechief.

Addresses were given by the following: Head Chief Pat LeadingFox, Herb Adson Cultural Resource Manager, Band Chief Tim Jim, Band Chief Morgan LittleSun, Band Chief Adrian Spottedhorsechief and Band Chief Matt Reed who is also the Historic Preservation Officer.

Two more songs including a prayer song were sung and drummed. The sound of taps echoed through the cemetery as Nick Moser played, closing the program. 

Visitors viewed the displays from Jerry Carlson & John Drozd while visiting with the Pawnee.

 The event happened because of the work of many people. We want to thank our donors: Philip and Sandra Swantek and Jerry & Nancy Carlson for purchasing the signs and for the following donors who made this day happen:  Nance County Economic Development, Union Pacific Railroad, Helen Schweizer, Ralph Miller, Preferred Sands of Genoa, Nance County Veteran’s Museum, Genoa Community Bank and PointsWest Community Bank pf Fullerton. We also want to thank our sponsors: The Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation, The Pawnee Nation, The Nance County Supervisors, Genoa Historical Museum, the City of Genoa, Nance County Veteran’s Memorial and American Legion Post #144, 

 A big thank you to the behind-the-scenes workers: Alyce Tejral & Nicki Drozd (lunch), Mitch Tracy & Jeff Morris (filming), Cherri Thieman (photography), Brody Thieman (handing out programs), the Genoa Leader times and Nance County Journal for publicizing the event, John Buhl (use of speaker system), Bruce Hoffman, John Drozd, Monte Swantek, Jerry Carlson & Nick Moser (set up & tear down), Marty Carlson shade tent and Nancy Carlson (moderator).