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More than 6,000 people -- a record
-- attended the Monday, June 26, night blast and ceremonies
honoring Crazy Horse Memorial President-CEO Ruth Ziolkowski on
her 80th birthday. The event also commemorated the 130th
anniversary of the Battle of the Little Big Horn in which Native
Americans led by Lakota warrior Crazy Horse and others defeated
U.S. cavalry troops headed by George Custer.
Gifts from her admirers and loved
ones ranged from a wheelbarrow filled with flowers to her
likeness in clay to a lawn-watering elephant (she collects model
elephants) to a quilt from relatives of Crazy Horse ("Tasunke
Witko.")
Officials noted that supporters
had given about $140,000 to help "Mrs. Z" fund construction
of housing at the Memorial for Native American student workers.
South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds also proclaimed June 26 as
Ruth
Ziolkowski Day, and the state's congressional delegation
obtained commemorative honors for her from the U.S. Senate and
House. |
