During Veterans Day weekend, more than 1,500 veterans took part in the dedication of the National Native American Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., according to Native News Online. (Photo by Alan Karchmer for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian).
The memorial honors Native American veterans and their families and educates the public about their extraordinary contributions. It is the first national landmark in the nation’s capital to commemorate the military contributions of American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiians.
According to the Smithsonian, Native Americans’ service in the United States military began during the Revolutionary War in 1775.
The National Native Americans Veterans Memorial’s design is an elevated stainless-steel circle balanced on a carved stone drum on the campus of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian.
The design was created by Harvey Pratt, a Vietnam War veteran, and Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma citizens. The design incorporates water for ceremonies, benches for gathering and reflection, and four lances where people can tie prayer cloths for offerings and reflection.
Dedication events included a grand procession through the National Mall and the presentation of colors by the Native American Women Warriors.
In partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Tribal Government Relations and staff of the Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project, the dedication ceremony was co-emceed by John Herrington of the Chickasaw Nation, the first Native American astronaut to go to space and Academy-award winner, Wes Studi.
“Thank you to everyone who joined us for the National Native American Veterans Memorial dedication today,” the museum tweeted.”The celebration isn’t over–join us as we celebrate Native veterans with family-friendly activities, films, performances, and more all weekend long.”
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the National Native American Veterans Memorial dedication today! The celebration isn't over–join us as we celebrate Native veterans with family-friendly activities, films, performances, and more all weekend long. https://t.co/m1f9LObAHm pic.twitter.com/UiV3vtyvfB
— National Museum of the American Indian (@SmithsonianNMAI) November 11, 2022
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