Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa made history as she gave 'the last measure of devotion' to her country. A young, twenty-three-old Hopi raised on a Navajo reservation, she was the first American servicewoman to be killed in action in the Iraq war, and the first Native American woman to give her life in combat in the United States military services. She was also the mother of two young children, a four-year-old son, and a three-year-old daughter.

A member of the 507th Ordinance Maintenance Company, she and her comrades were ambushed on March 23rd when they took a wrong turn and became lost. Special Operations commandos from the combined services discovered their bodies during the successful rescue of Piestewa's Fort Bliss, TX, roommate, Pfc. Jessica Lynch.

Service to America was traditional in Private Piestewa's family; her father served in Viet Nam, and her grandfather saw service in WW II. At the time this is being written (March 2003), there are 56 Hopi and over 12,000 other Native Americans now serving in the United States armed forces. Forty-eight of the Hopi military personnel are presently serving in Iraq.

Due to the efforts of the Arizona Republic, a newspaper in Phoenix, Squaw Peak, located in North Central Phoenix, has been renamed Piestewa Peak in Lori's honor. The word squaw, as used by some Native Americans, has negative connotations when used to refer to a person, male or female. Small wonder that Native Americans wanted to see the mountain's name changed. As E. J. Montini asked in a stirring memorial column, "Who would call a Warrior a squaw?" The Piestewa Freeway is also named in Lori's honor.

Hopis interpret Lori's family name, Piestewa, as 'the People Who Live by the Water' and as 'the Ceremonies at the Springs'; very fitting, as she will be honored on Memorial Day at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery by having rose petals scattered in its reflecting pool.

Friends and family of Lori Piestewa have established a memorial fund for her 4-year-old son, Brandon, and 3-year-old daughter, Carla, who are being cared for by their grandparents in Tuba City, AZ. Those wishing to contribute to the fund, which will be used to raise the children and for their future educational needs, can send checks to “Lori Piestewa's Memorial Fund" at any Wells Fargo bank. The account has been set up under the auspices of the Hopi Nation. Addresses for Wells Fargo can be found at http://www.wellsfargo.com Click on the "Locations" link at http://www.wellsfargo.com/help/find_us.jhtml