U.S. Navy veteran Curtis Motlow is the 2024 Veterans Day Celebration’s Seminole Veteran Honoree.

Motlow grew up in Oklahoma and moved to the Hollywood Reservation in 2013. He has served on the Seminole Honor Guard since then. Seminole Tribune staff reporter Beverly Bidney spoke to Curtis about his military service and his role in the Honor Guard.

Tribune: What does it mean to you to be honored by your tribe for Veterans Day?

Curtis Motlow: I found it very flattering that they would choose me, but I don’t think I should be honored at all. It’s not the reason why I joined. I joined to serve my country and do the best I could. For a young kid, I felt I had to do something with my life. But I’m very happy to be recognized in any way. Any military person is happy to be recognized for our service.

Tribune: When did you serve in the Navy, what was your rank and on what ship did you serve?

Curtis Motlow: I was in the Navy from 1993 to 1995 and worked in the valve shop on a repair ship, the USS Yellowstone AD41. We were in the Atlantic Fleet, based in Norfolk, Virginia. I was a Machinist Mate E2.

Tribune: What does it mean to you to be a Native American military veteran

Curtis Motlow: The history of the military and Native Americans is not a good one, but I didn’t have a problem serving. Even though the way we were treated back then wasn’t good, many Native Americans serve. My dad served and I wanted to be like my dad. It was a family thing. My brothers also served.

Tribune: What does it mean to you to be in the Seminole Honor Guard?

Curtis Motlow: It means quite a bit to me. When I first moved back here, I didn’t even know there was a veterans group. I met Stephen Bowers, who was president of the veterans group, and asked me if I served. Then he asked if I wanted to join the group. That’s how it all began. He also asked me if I wanted to join the Honor Guard; I said no problem.

Tribune: What are some of your best memories of serving in the Honor Guard?

Curtis Motlow: Travel, mostly. I’ve been all over the state and back to Oklahoma. We travel to different places to do Honor Guard. We do Florida State University’s graduation; that’s one of my best memories. One of my most recent trips has been to New York. The Seneca Tribe invited us to participate in their powwow in August.

Tribune: What advice do you have for young tribal members about joining the military?

Curtis Motlow: I’d tell them to follow your heart. If it’s something they feel they should do, I say just go for it. But they must realize it is a commitment. If that’s what they really want to do, I’d say go for it.

Tribune: Do you miss anything about being in the military?

Curtis Motlow: The people. There were so many different kinds of people on my ship, people I never would have met. It made me grow as a person. On top of that, my ship was co-ed, which made it even more interesting.