The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is proud to build a National Native American Veterans Memorial to recognize the service of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian veterans in every branch of the United States of Armed Forces. As commissioned by Congress, the memorial will be built on the grounds of the museum just off the National Mall. The memorial designer, Harvey Pratt, is a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. A Marine Corps veteran, Pratt is one of 42,000 Native Americans who served in the Vietnam War.
On Veterans Day 2020, we will gather to dedicate the Memorial and honor Native American Veterans. From Tuesday, November 10 through Sunday, November 15 NMAI will host various events to mark this historic moment, including the Native Veterans Procession, dedication ceremony, and first access to the memorial, to take place on November 11. NMAI are inviting all Native Americans to attend the dedication along with the 133,000 Native American Veterans and 31,000 Natives actively serving in the Armed Forces. If you cannot travel to Washington, DC on November 11, please consider hosting a watch party to view the live stream of the dedication.
For more information on attending or participating in the dedication (including the procession and for Native artists who wish to perform during the multi-day celebration), please visit nmai.si.edu/nnavm.
