By Salamanca, NY
Eileen Buckley – A former Seneca Nation of Indians president has passed away. 92-year-old George Heron of Salamanca died Thursday.
Heron served two separate terms as Seneca Nation president from 1958 to 1960 and again from 1962 to 1964. Heron also served as a past treasurer and tribal councilor for the Seneca's. He was also a former member of the U.S. Navy.
In April of 2010, Heron was presented the New York State Medal For Merit. He enlisted in the Navy in 1941 and served until 1945 when he was discharged. It was during his time in the Navy that he reached rank of a pharmacist mate first class during war time.
Heron is survived by his children, grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
His funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the at the Jimersontown Presbyterian Church, Jimersontown.
The following is a statement from Seneca Nation of Indians President Robert Odawi Porter about the death of former Nation President George Heron:
"We mourn the passing of former Seneca President George Heron. He was our leader during a critical time in the 1960s when the atrocities associated with the Kinzua watershed and dam hit our Nation. We honor his legacy of protecting our Nation during such adverse times by fighting today to protect our sovereignty, treaties, and lands, and pursuing the Kinzua hydropower re-licensing. Through this, our people will have returned to them the land and its value and use, which would please President Heron. That will benefit our territories as well as provide economic development for our neighbors in New York and Pennsylvania."
"On this Memorial Day Weekend, when we salute all veterans, and especially the thousands of Senecas who have served with distinction in the U.S. armed forces, we want to pay particular tribute to President Heron's service, to his commitment to all American veterans, and to his hard work on behalf of all Senecas who served."