Jessica Lynch Serves as Honorary Chair at Piestewa Games

By Harley Yearout

Jessica Lynch, a retired U.S Army Pfc., is serving as Honorary Chair of the 2018 Fiesta Bowl Lori Piestewa National Native American games this weekend. Lynch received a Bronze Star as well as a Purple Heart and Prisoner of War Medal by the U.S Armed Forces.

“I am excited to serve as Honorary Chairman for the Fiesta Bowl Lori Piestewa National Native American Games,” Lynch said.

The Games are named in honor of Lori Piestewa, a U.S. Army Solider who was killed in Iraq in 2003. Piestewa was a member of the Hopi tribe from Tuba City, Arizona. She was the first Native American to die in combat while serving in the military.

“Lori was my best friend, and I am proud to see that her legacy lives on through the Piestewa National Native American Games. What a fitting tribute to a hero whose purpose in life was to bring people together,” she said.

The games attract more than 3,000 spreading across 50 different Native American tribes and consist of basketball, volleyball, youth baseball softball, cross country and track and field. The games started on July 20 and wrap up on July 22.