The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian dedicated the National Native American Veterans Memorial with a ceremony at the National Mall in Washington D.C. on Nov. 11, which was part of a three-day event to honor Native veterans and reflect on their extraordinary service and sacrifice.
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians was a major supporter of the memorial site—the first national landmark in the nation’s capital to spotlight the military contributions of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.
The memorial—designed by Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, and Vietnam War veteran)—features an elevated stainless steel circle resting on a carved stone drum. It incorporates water for ceremonies, benches for gatherings and four lances for people to tie cloths for prayers and healing. Before the dedication ceremony, more than 1,500 veterans participated in a procession from the museum to the National Mall. Native Americans have served in every major military conflict in the U.S. since the Revolutionary War.
The museum hosted special programming in honor of the memorial’s dedication on Nov. 12 and 13, including hands-on activities, films and performances. The museum will continue to raise funds for an endowment for the memorial, to ensure its continued upkeep and provide support for ongoing programming and events about Native veterans.
