When Lakota riders saddle up for the 10^th annual Crazy Horse Ride this Sunday, they will complete, in spirit, the journey of the famed Oglala warrior.

"Crazy Horse rode into Fort Robinson," Bam Brewer, organizer of the Crazy Horse Ride, said. "He never got to ride out of there."

More than 200 riders are expected to participate in this year's ride, which starts Sunday at Fort Robinson, Neb., and ends Thursday, June 7, at the annual All Veterans Powwow in Pine Ridge.

Brewer started the ride as a way to honor all veterans.

"I have two uncles who are Vietnam veterans, and I wanted to say thank you to them," he said. "It's a good way to honor them."

The ride begins at Fort Robinson, where Crazy Horse was mortally wounded in a skirmish with U.S. soldiers in 1877. Riders will travel about 30 miles to Chadron, Neb., on Sunday.

"That's a true test of horse and rider," Brewer said. More than three-quarters of last year's riders were youths between 10 and 16 years old. "They do better than us (older) guys."

Chadron police escort the Crazy Horse Ride through town to the fairgrounds, where riders spend the night. The local Lions Club and Wal-Mart provide dinner.

"Everybody's so tired that night; it's a pretty quiet camp," Brewer said.

On Monday, riders travel east to Beaver Valley, where they stay on the Kadlecek family land. The Oglala believe Crazy Horse's relatives took his body there after he was killed. The body was placed in a burial tree, then moved to a secret burial place in the middle of the night, Brewer said. "Nobody knows to this day where Crazy Horse is buried."

Monday's ride is about 16 miles. Riders take a day off Tuesday, with Dave Cattlecheck and local historians leading a tour of the land. The land is also the site of the last sundance held before the Oglala moved onto Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Brewer said. Honorings, ceremonies and a bonnet presentation are planned for that night.

Riders then head for the Crazy Horse Camp north of Hay Springs before riding in to the All Veterans Powwow on Thursday evening.

The Crazy Horse Ride brings people together in good ways, Brewer said. Along the route, families of veterans volunteer to feed the riders in honor of their relatives. The Cattlechecks and others allow riders to cross their private land.

"Because we're doing it for the veterans and Crazy Horse - it has such a good purpose - we've had a lot of people support this ride," Brewer said. Although the tribe has its share of differences and confusion, the Crazy Horse Ride has helped draw tribal members together, he said.

And, of course, the ride brings together veterans and their families.

"It's like a big support group for those families that are worrying about their loved ones in the military," Brewer said. "It's also a healing for those who have returned."

Adults involved with the ride - including spiritual leaders Mel Lonehill and Wilmer Mesteth - hope the event helps teach young riders about respect for eagle feathers, veterans and Lakota culture and family structure. They also hope it helps them learn to work together.

The sight of 200 Lakota on horseback bearing a U.S. flag, a Prisoner of War flag and a Lakota eagle staff as they finish the Crazy Horse Ride at the All Veterans' Powwow is spectacular, Brewer said. "It's the biggest gathering of mounted warriors in maybe a century."

The ride will officially end with speeches by leaders such as Lonehill and Mesteth. Brewer will listen carefully to their words.

"To me it's like a message, possibly a message from Crazy Horse," he said. "That's just the way I look at it."

The All Veterans Powwow runs June 7-11 in Pine Ridge.

Contact Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419 or heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com