Charles Shay performs his sage ceremony on Omaha Beach, where he landed during D-Day. “I touch my forehead with the sage mixture, say a prayer and drop the mixture into the fire. I repeat the process to all four directions of the compass, twice. The first time I remember my family and ancestors, the second time my fellow brothers-in-arms that never made it home. Each year I think I’ll be joining them soon and I’m consoled knowing they will greet me.” Shay has traveled to Normandy nearly every year since 2007 to conduct the ceremony. He’s now 93.


32 AMERICAN INDIAN SUMMER 2018


PHOTO COURTESY CHARLES NORMAN SHAY


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