Shannon Wagers

July 2020

History Gets Ugly

By Shannon Wagers Enchantment. The flag of the to increasing tension with the that it would snap under only a Confederacy fluttered only briefly Navajo Indians, Col. Thomas T. slight pull. The Indians protested,

Symbols are powerful things. over the territory, when rebel Fauntleroy, commander of the but the judges—all soldiers— forces occupied Albuquerque Military Department of New refused to run the race again and

In recent weeks, we’ve and Santa Fe for a few weeks in Mexico, established a fort on the declared Kavanaugh’s horse the seen protests erupt over flags, the spring of 1862, before being outskirts of Navajo country and winner. A melee ensued, during statues and the naming of defeated at the Battle of Glorieta named it after himself. When the which the troops fired on the military installations for longPass and forced to retreat back Civil War broke out less than a Indians, killing 12 and wounding dead Confederate generals. Some to El Paso. The Daughters of the year later, Fauntleroy, a native of many more, including women demonstrations have turned Confederacy long ago placed Virginia, resigned his commission and children. violent. Here in Albuquerque, a a marker near the battlefield, and, along with a handful of other man was shot as the result of a southeast of Santa Fe, in memory officers under his command, rode The Fort Fauntleroy Massacre, difference of opinion about the of the soldiers who died there. off to join the Confederacy. He as it came to be called, was appropriateness of a statue in Old That simple bronze plaque still was commissioned a brigadier one of several similar incidents Town purporting to be a likeness stands and is, as far as I’m aware, general in the rebel army. Fort that led to all-out war with of the adelantado Juan de Oñate, the only Confederate monument Fauntleroy, 12 miles east of the Navajos, culminating founder of the first Spanish extant in our state. present-day Gallup, was then in their removal to a dismal settlement in New Mexico. renamed Fort Lyon, and later Fort reservation on the Pecos River In recognition of the brief Wingate. It remained active until at Fort Sumner, 300 miles from

Whether Oñate deserves a occupation by Southern troops, 1992, a remarkably long lifespan their homeland. This was a place of honor or of infamy in the stars and bars was formerly for a frontier post. calamity on a par with Oñate’s New Mexico history is a valid flown on Albuquerque’s Old war on Acoma Pueblo, which question for debate but hardly a Town Plaza, along with the flags On Sept. 22, 1861, after has brought him into such justification for violence, nearly of other nations that have claimed Fauntleroy had departed, but disrepute. After three years they 400 years after his death. Protests elsewhere have centered around the lingering legacy of Civil War iconography in the Old South. Happily, that conflict didn’t leave much of a mark on the Land of “ MY FATHER’S CAREGIVERS CHANGED MY LIFE .” — Jennifer Muller sovereignty here: Spain, Mexico and the U.S. But it was removed amid protests a few years ago. Oddly enough, one military outpost did, for a short time, bear the name of a Confederate general. In 1860, in response WE TREAT YOUR FAMILY LIKE OURS Atención Family Services was founded in 2007 with the goal of assisting New Mexican families with their home healthcare needs. Albuquerque Business Owner, Jennifer Muller purchased the company in 2015 and has since grown the organization and sustained the company mission. At Atención every client has a team of caregivers assigned to them that ensure their continuity of care. Muller purchased the company after experiencing Atención’s care giving services firsthand. “ Our caregiver loved my father when she didn’t have to and this changed everything for my family .” before the Army bureaucracy got around to removing his name from the fort, it became the scene of yet another tragic incident in the long, sad history of Euro-American / Native American relations. A large number of Indians had come in to the fort to receive their monthly allotment of rations. As was customary on such occasions, horse races were held, pitting the Navajos’ swift ponies against the best cavalry — Jennifer Muller. Muller exemplifies Atención’s compassion through her individual care for every client— through home visits and constant communication with caregivers. were allowed to return home, impoverished and demoralized. History is often not pretty. Many things that were done in the past shock our sensibilities today. All we can do is to look objectively at such facts as we have available to us about past events and interpret them honestly, without erasure or distortion. We must keep in mind that the people who shaped those events may have had values and priorities much different mounts. Betting was particularly from our own, and that future heavy on the main event of the generations will likely judge us day, a match between a Navajo and the things we do today as “MY FATHER’S CAREGIVERS “MY FATHER’S CAREGIVERS CHANGED MY LIFE .” — Jennifer Muller info@Atenciónfamilyservices.com www.Atenciónfamilyservices.com CONTACT 505-217-1770 505-349-3875 6300 Montano RD NW STE H Albuquerque, NM 87120 Family Services ATENCIÓN Do you want a big agency, or a little ATENCIÓN? Family Services ATENCIÓN called Pistol Bullet and a horse belonging to the post surgeon, Finis Kavanaugh. Seconds after the race began, Pistol Bullet lost control of his horse, which left the course and tore off in another direction. It was then discovered that the horse’s bridle rein had been slashed with a knife, so harshly as we judge those who lived before us. The zeitgeist, the spirit of the times, constantly evolves, and generally in a positive direction, toward greater tolerance and kindness, less cruelty and injustice. That should give us hope. Do you want a big agency, Family Services ATENCIÓN WE TREAT YOUR FAMILY LIKE OURS CONTACT Atención Family Services was founded in 2007 with the goal of assisting New Mexican families with their home healthcare needs. Albuquerque Business Owner, Jennifer Muller purchased the company in 2015 and has since grown the organization and sustained the company mission. At Atención every client has a team of caregivers assigned to them that ensure their continuity of care. Muller purchased the company after experiencing Atención’s care giving services firsthand. CHANGED MY LIFE .” — Jennifer Muller “Our caregiver loved my father when she didn’t have to and this changed WE TREAT YOUR FAMILY LIKE OURS Atención Family Services was founded in 2007 with the goal of assisting New Mexican families with their home healthcare needs. Albuquerque Business Owner, Jennifer Muller purchased the company in 2015 and has since grown the organization and sustained the company mission. At Atención every client has a team of caregivers assigned to them that ensure their continuity of care. Muller purchased the company after experiencing Atención’s care giving services firsthand. “Our caregiver loved my father when she didn’t have to and this changed everything for my family .” — Jennifer Muller. Muller exemplifies Atención’s compassion through her individual care for every client— through home visits and constant or a little ATENCIÓN ? Do you want a big agency, or a little ATENCIÓN? CONTACT 6300 Montano RD NW STE H Committed to providing the highest quality, client-centered and affordable home care services. Dedicated to assigning exceptionally qualified, trustworthy and compassionate individuals to you and your loved ones. TRANSPORTATION MEAL PREPARATION LIGHT HOUSEKEEPING ASSISTANCE WITH PERSONAL CARE COMPANIONSHIP www.AtenciónFamilyServices.com info.AtenciónFamilyServices.com • 505-217-1770