Native American Veterans Memorial opens

WASHINGTON, D.C.-After 25 years in the making, the National Native American Veterans Memorial opened on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on November 11, 2020, which was Veterans Day.

"It's an article of faith in Indian country that Native Americans serve at a greater rate than basically any other group," said Kevin Gover, the director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and a citizen of the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. He said the steel ring sculpture over a carved stone drum will become hallowed ground.

"When people bring their memories and bring their prayers to a place, they make it sacred," he said. "We wish for this to be a sacred place, not just for Native Americans, but for all Americans."

The memorial design-an elevated stainless-steel circle balanced on a carved stone drum-also includes water for ceremonies, benches for gathering and reflection, and four lances. The design concept entitled Warriors' Circle of Honor was created by Harvey Pratt of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. Pratt is a self-taught artist whose works include themes of Native American history and tradition. He also served in the Marines in Vietnam from 1962 to 1965. Pratt has received the Cheyenne Nation's highest honor, being inducted as a traditional Peace Chief. His design was chosen from the more than 120 designs submitted.

The memorial has been in the works since 1994, when Congress commissioned the museum to construct and maintain the memorial. The original act provided location, funding and design regulations and in 2013, legislation was amended to allow the memorial to be located on NMAI grounds and allow the museum to raise funds. From 2015-2017, the NMAI memorial advisory committee sought input from tribal leaders, Native veterans and Native community members. The committee held a design competition in November 2017, and in June 2018, the jury unanimously selected Pratt's "Warriors' Circle of Honor" design. In September 2019, the NMAI held a ground-breaking ceremony and announced plans for the dedication ceremony, which was slated for this Veterans Day.

The museum had originally planned to dedicate the memorial with a ceremony and veterans procession. When the pandemic is past, the museum plans to continue with its original plans for the dedication ceremony and procession.

"The National Native American Veterans Memorial will serve as a reminder to the nation and the world of the service and sacrifice of Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian veterans," said Gover. "Native Americans have always answered the call to serve, and this memorial is a fitting tribute to their patriotism and deep commitment to this country."