{"id":29285,"date":"2024-02-10T02:37:20","date_gmt":"2024-02-10T02:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/he-already-had-a-purple-heart-kirtland-central-retires-jersey-to-honor-alumnus-killed-in-iraq-tour\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T06:52:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T06:52:36","slug":"he-already-had-a-purple-heart-kirtland-central-retires-jersey-to-honor-alumnus-killed-in-iraq-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/he-already-had-a-purple-heart-kirtland-central-retires-jersey-to-honor-alumnus-killed-in-iraq-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018He already had a purple heart\u2019: Kirtland Central retires jersey to honor alumnus killed in Iraq tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Surviving
Surviving family members of late Sgt. Clifton Yazzie react to the unveiling of the jersey that was retired during the halftime of the Kirtland Central and Shiprock boys basketball game on Feb. 8, at Bronco Arena. Clifton Yazzie is a 2001 graduate of Kirtland Central High School and a member of the state championship team the same year. Yazzie was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom conflict in January 2006. (Curtis Ray Benally\/Turkeyboy Photography)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Family, coaches, faculty and basketball fans on Thursday honored a former student-athlete who paid the ultimate price in war, and retired his jersey during halftime at Kirtland Central\u2019s home game against Shiprock High.<\/p>\n

On Jan. 20, 2006, Sgt. Clifton Yazzie was one of four soldiers killed when a roadside explosive device detonated during patrol operations in Iraq. Yazzie was on his second tour, Operation Iraqi Freedom.<\/p>\n

The Military Order of the Purple Heart posthumously awarded a plaque to Yazzie.<\/p>\n

During the extended halftime, the Kirtland Central Army JROTC Bronco Battalion presented the colors.<\/p>\n

Family of Yazzie stood at half-court, including his daughter, Chynitta, and son, Cayden. Coaches, administrators and members of Four Corners Blue Star Mothers Chapter One stood on the side in support.<\/p>\n

The formation was one that is done for a funeral service, said JROTC instructor Pedro Larribas.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did it symbolically in the sense of leading his jersey out paying our final respects to him for the ultimate sacrifice but finishing that with congratulations and honoring the parents because they live that every day, missing Sgt. Yazzie,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The cadets ranged in age from freshmen to seniors, Larribas said, so that they all could experience an aspect of military service.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur students may never go on to join the military but they\u2019ll always keep this memory,\u201d he said \u201cWhen they come into Bronco arena and see that jersey up there, they were a part of something big and memorable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yazzie\u2019s jersey was unveiled after a countdown, then the lights in Bronco arena were dimmed and \u201cTaps\u201d was played.<\/p>\n

A portrait painted by student Evan Stephenson was presented and will be displayed outside the arena in the student commons.<\/p>\n

\"Norman
Norman C. Begaye (left), Nenahnezad Chapter president, presents an embroidered jacket to C.Y. Yazzie, father of Clifton Yazzie, during the jersey retirement ceremony. (Curtis Ray Benally\/Turkeyboy Photography)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Clifford Yazzie, father of Clifton, also was honored that night by the Kirtland Youth Association for his many dedicated years of service in basketball.<\/p>\n

Norman C. Begaye, KYA basketball league commissioner, spoke to Yazzie\u2019s father, \u201cCoach CY,\u201d about his involvement with the basketball leagues.<\/p>\n

Yazzie was gifted a mug, beanie and a jacket embroidered with \u201chis favorite letters, KC.\u201d<\/p>\n

Steve Carlson, Central Consolidated superintendent, and Christina Aspaas, board vice president, also were in attendance.<\/p>\n

Carlson, a teacher at the time, was the graduating speaker for Yazzie\u2019s graduating class.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do appreciate the school board got involved and have been very supportive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

A defensive play for the books <\/strong><\/div>\n

For Steve Scott, former Kirtland varsity boys basketball coach, the purple heart plaque brings reverence to Yazzie\u2019s commitment to his alma mater.<\/p>\n

Yazzie\u2019s involvement in the Artesia game during the 2001 state tournament remains vivid in Scott\u2019s memory.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are caught in a very bizarre strange game, and on paper we should win,\u201d he said. \u201cOn game night, we\u2019re losing.\u201d<\/p>\n

With four minutes left to go in the game, the team was behind 14 points.<\/p>\n

Five Kirtland players, all starters, had fouled out of the game.<\/p>\n

Scott said the bench would need to find a way to win the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no margin for error, and you have to play every possession like the last possession on defense and on offense,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

It would be a defensive play that required the players to be in position and \u201cplay your rules.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yazzie got into defensive position and took a charge from an Artesia player driving to the basket. He was \u201crun over,\u201d and the official called the ball for Kirtland.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a game this is so critical because we got no time,\u201d he said. \u201cWe got to score when we got the ball and we got to stop them when they got the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

This play ended up turning the whole game around. With 2.8 seconds left to go and behind three points, Pat Crawford made a half-court shot to tie the game and take them into overtime.<\/p>\n

The Kirtland team secured the win in overtime, and went on to win the 2001 state title and continue their streak until 2003.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat one play, in the last four minutes of that ballgame is so ingrained in my mind,\u201d he said. \u201cI can see it like it happened like it was yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

The play by Yazzie told you what kind of kid he was. He was right where he needed to be at that crucial moment.<\/p>\n

Yazzie did not have immense court time as a player, but he worked in practice to make everyone else better and was all about the team, Scott said.<\/p>\n

There was no complaint from Yazzie about his play time. He was a cheerleader on the bench, patting his teammates on the back and encouraging them.<\/p>\n

When Yazzie found his way to the military, he was so happy and when Scott questioned his choice to take a second tour, Yazzie replied, \u201cThat\u2019s what I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot everybody can say that,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n

Yazzie received the Purple Heart medal, but to former coach Scott, he already had one.<\/p>\n

\"Parents
Parents C.Y. Yazzie (left) and Jeanette Yazzie (right) of U.S. Army Sgt. Clifton Yazzie are emotional during the playing of \u201cTaps\u201d at the jersey retirement ceremony for their son. Clifton is an alumni of Kirtland Central High School Class of 2001 and a member of the state championship of the same year. (Curtis Ray Benally\/Turkeyboy Photography)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
\u2018Like one of my own\u2019<\/strong><\/div>\n

English teacher Lisa Cline described Yazzie as the sweetest person she\u2019s ever met, a tall and long-legged student who one day found himself in her classroom.<\/p>\n

Yazzie was not a student of Cline\u2019s, but she asked him when she saw his build, if he ran. After hearing about his involvement with basketball, Cline suggested he run cross-country, since it was the offseason for basketball.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll help you on the basketball court, and he said \u2018OK\u2019,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

A business teacher at the time, Cline was recruited to help with cross-country by her father, who was the coach.<\/p>\n

Cline remembers Yazzie\u2019s humor, tricks and personality that made everybody love him.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike he was running for mayor, he was talking to everybody,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"English
English teacher Lisa Cline keeps a photo of Clifton Yazzie by her desk alongside her own photos of her own children. His death was like losing one of her own kids. Alx Lee\/Tri-City Record<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The news of Yazzie\u2019s death was devastating to Cline when she heard of it at a basketball game.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was like losing my own child,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Donna Woods, former bus driver and concession manager, said she remembers Yazzie as a good kid who always acknowledged her.<\/p>\n

After graduating, he would make a point to visit her at the concession stand, bringing her money from where he was stationed, she said.<\/p>\n

Woods was involved in cross-country and said the boys team would sing \u201cOh Donna\u201d to her.<\/p>\n

\"Kirtland
Kirtland Central High School art student Evan Stephenson (right) and art teacher Christopher Schramm present a portrait painting in tribute to Sgt. Clifton Yazzie to the Yazzie family during the jersey retirement ceremony at halftime. (Curtis Ray Benally\/Turkeyboy Photography)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Evan
Evan Stephenson, a junior at Kirtland Central High School, started the portrait of alumnus Clifton Yazzie in May 2023. (Alx Lee\/Tri City)<\/span>Alx Lee<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

A portrait of valor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Evan Stephenson, a junior at Kirtland Central, said the portrait would be his first painting. He primarily draws and sketches.<\/p>\n

Stephenson started to pursue art at a young age after being inspired by his uncle, who was an artist.<\/p>\n

Principal Rebecca Benedict had taken the project to the former art teacher, and Stephenson volunteered to do it.<\/p>\n

Starting in May 2023 Stephenson started the portrait by meeting with the family who gave him creative freedom and were thankful to him for taking up the task.<\/p>\n

Stephenson said the process of painting the portrait had its moments of struggle. As his first painting, there was some learning that came with mixing and blending the paint.<\/p>\n

Another component that had some difficulty was getting Yazzie\u2019s smile right.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody loved his teeth and everybody knew him for his teeth,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The current art teacher, Christopher Schramm, has been a big help in getting the portrait done, Stephenson said.<\/p>\n

Schramm assisted Stephenson with the American flag and the different colors on the portrait that needed shading and blending.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s looking great with how it turns out, and I think the family will really like it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Stephenson
Stephenson holds a reference photo of Yazzie used for the portrait. (Alx Lee\/Tri-City Record)<\/span>Alx Lee<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Stephenson
Stephenson paints detail on the Shiprock pinnacle that is featured on the portrait. (Alx Lee\/Tri-City Record)<\/span>Alx Lee<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Benedict said Yazzie\u2019s mother, Jeanette, had asked about the retirement of his jersey.<\/p>\n

According to the New Mexico Athletic Association, the retirement of a jersey would be the school board\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n

After establishing criteria including, GPA of the student and good character, the school board approved the retirement.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a no-brainer that they approved it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Benedict has been with Kirtland Central High for five years and did not know Yazzie but just in interacting with those who knew him, he represented how Benedict sees Kirtland.<\/p>\n

At graduations, speakers will talk of the journey students are going to take when leaving high school and the expectations faculty and teachers have for them. Yazzie was the epitome of that, Benedict said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so much good going on, and that\u2019s what I see here,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a family here, the school is the mainstay of the community, and he was a part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"C.Y.
C.Y. and Jeanette Yazzie, parents of U.S. Army Sgt. Clifton Yazzie, pose for a photo with members of Four Corners Blue Star Mothers Chapter One at the conclusion of the jersey retirement ceremony Feb. 8, at Carlin Gym. (Curtis Ray Benally\/Turkeyboy Photography)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

dedication left behind with school and teammates <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29286,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[1240,1222,155,799,28,1241],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-29285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-aztec","tag-bloomfield","tag-education","tag-farmington","tag-headlines","tag-kirtland"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29285"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80696,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29285\/revisions\/80696"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29285"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=29285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}