By Lourdes Medrano
Strangers to each other, the two young men came together in an ancient American Indian dance ceremony that honors warriors past and present.
Eric Isaac, who is Tohono O'odham, moved his feet in unision with other war veterans to the beat of a drum that Michael Peru pounded at a recent gourd dance recognizing Isaac's military service.
"Thank you, brave soldiers," sang Peru in Apache as Isaac and other war veterans danced around a circle of men beating on a single large drum of steer-hide and cottonwood. The dance was featured during last week's annual conference of the Society of American Indian Government Employees at Ventana Canyon Resort.
The ritual held special meaning for both Isaac, who participated for the first time in a gourd dance, and Peru, who presented his original song to the Southwest Gourd Society, which hosted the two-hour event.
"This has been a unique experience," said Isaac, who did two tours in Iraq during his four years with the Marine Corps. Isaac, 26, said he was discharged in late 2004.
Peru, who said he is Cherokee, Chiricahua Apache and Yaqui, became involved in the gourd dance ceremony to help preserve his ancestors' traditions. Through it, Peru said he honors his grandfather, Filemon Chacon, a World War II veteran.
"Third-generation males can dance for their grandfathers if they're unable to do it," said Peru, 27. "My grandpa is almost 93 years old. He lives up in Bullhead City, but he knows what I'm doing."
Like Isaac's family, Peru's relatives watched the ceremony from the sidelines. "It's not good to be proud; we're supposed to be a humble people," said his mother, Carol Peru. "But it's very rewarding to see this because it keeps the culture alive within us."
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