Waggoner is Veteran of the Month

Maria Waggoner, District 3, is Choctaw Nation’s Veteran of the Month.
Waggoner was born in Talihina, Okla., and attended Cottonwood/Centrahoma, Wheelock Academy (grades 3-5), Talihina Schools, and graduated from Chilocco High School in 1959.
While in high school, a recruiter visited to speak with students. Waggoner was inspired to join the U.S. Navy. In Sept. 1959, Maria boarded her first flight from Okla. City, Okla., to New York to begin her journey.
Waggoner completed Basic Training in Bainbridge, Maryland. Her most significant challenge was swimming the length of the pool, which she accomplished by floating the entire way.
After basic training, she was assigned to Quonset Point, Rhode Island, where she served in Operations, handling office procedures and coordinating flight schedules. She remained in that position until her honorable release in 1961.
Waggoner returned to Oklahoma and attended Business School in Muskogee, Okla., then went to Draughon’s Business School in Tulsa, where she received her Secretarial Certification. She then moved back to Talihina and worked for the BIA for 30 years before retiring.
Since retirement, Waggoner worked for the Talihina Indian Hospital for nine years.
Waggoner has one son, Jon, five grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
She is very patriotic and was glad to serve in the U.S. Navy and work for the BIA. She is also very proud of her Native American Heritage, being 3/4 Choctaw.
The Choctaw Nation holds our veterans in the highest esteem and appreciates their sacrifices and contributions to preserve our freedoms and the way of life we hold dear.