![Design by Harvey Pratt/Butzer Architects and Urbanism, illustration by Skyline Ink, courtesy of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.](/images/nnavm_rendering_2_1.jpg)
- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
WASHINGTON — The dedication ceremony of the National Native American Veterans Memorial that was scheduled for Veterans Day on Nov. 11 has been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A veterans’ procession also scheduled for that date has been postponed as well.
In its place, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian will host a virtual event on Nov. 11 to mark the completion of the National Native American Veterans Memorial.
The memorial was commissioned by Congress and will have a home on the grounds of the National Museum of the American Indian’s Washington, D.C. location. It will be the first national landmark in Washington to focus on the contributions of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians who served in the U.S. military.
The memorial design is by Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma), a multimedia artist, retired forensic artist and Marine Corps Vietnam veteran.
November’s virtual event will also acknowledge the service and sacrifice of Native veterans and their families. More information about the event is forthcoming.
The museum planned to host a dedication ceremony and veterans’ procession to mark the memorial’s completion. The museum will reschedule both events when it is safe to do so at a future date.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsNative News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
President Biden Appoints Janie Simms Hipp to Community Development Advisory Board
Call to Campaigns: See Indian Country
NCAI Condemns Racist Remarks by Trump-Backed GOP Montana Senatorial Candidate
Following the release of the U.S. Department of the Interior's final report, we at Native News Online took a moment to reflect on our extensive three-year effort to highlight the traumatic legacy of Indian boarding schools. By covering all 12 Road to Healing events and publishing over 250 articles, we have amplified survivors' voices and illuminated the lasting impact on Indigenous communities. Our work continues. Please consider donating to help fund our ongoing coverage of Indian boarding schools.