Veterans Day 2022 is a day that lives on in the memories of the thousands who attended a ceremony to dedicate the National Native American Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Indigenous veterans and their community and family members gathered on November 11 at the National Museum of the American Indian to celebrate the memorial’s completion in 2020 and recognize the sacrifice of all American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian men and women who have served in the U.S. military since the Revolutionary War. The weekend that followed was filled with events that underscored their contributions.
With the U.S. Capitol behind them, Alexis Raeana (Lumbee) and Charly Lowry (Tuscarora/Lumbee) sang the national anthem at the National Native American Veterans Memorial's dedication.
Photo by NMAI Staff
Community and family members as well as other supporters proudly marched alongside more than 1,700 veterans and service men and women from some 120 Native nations in a two-hour procession. Participants started at the museum and then winded around a portion of the National Mall before ending at the ceremony’s stage in front of the U.S. Capitol.
Many of those who joined the procession carried signs honoring veterans and photos of lost loved ones.
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A U.S. Air Force veteran carries an eagle staff during the procession.
Photo by NMAI Staff
A color guard carries the flags of the United States, Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Tribes as well as Colorado.
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Navajo Marine veteran Thomas Begay (center) was among those who marched. He is one of the last living "code talkers" who developed an unbreakable code using the Navajo language that helped defeat Axis forces during World War II.
Photo by Matailong Du for the NMAI
Service members and veterans from all branches of the military joined the procession.
Photo by NMAI Staff
Service members and veterans from all branches of the military joined the procession.
Photo by NMAI Staff
Around 4 p.m., Chickasaw Nation veteran and astronaut John Herrington (far right) opened the dedication ceremony with veteran, actor and filmmaker Wes Studi (Cherokee, in black next to Herrington). Charly Lowry (Lumbee/Tuscarora) and Alexis Raeana (Lumbee) sang the national anthem and Kiowa Vietnam veteran Robert Short (at podium) offered an invocation before Smithsonian and U.S. government leaders remarked on the memorial's historic recognition of the contributions of Indigenous veterans to the United States and their communities.
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Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch spoke at the dedication.
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U.S. Representative Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk/Winnebago) of Kansas, whose mother is an Army veteran, also spoke at the dedication. Davids thanked all who have served: "I just appreciate you so much for protecting our freedoms."
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National Native American Veterans Memorial designer Harvey Pratt, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and a Marine Corps veteran, spoke about the origin and meaning of his design before the flame at the drum-shaped base of the memorial was lit at dusk. Indigenous communities throughout the nation offered input and support toward the its creation. Pratt has described the towering stainless-steel circle that is the centerpiece of the memorial as representing “the hole in the sky where the Creator lives.”
Director Chavez Lamar stood next to memorial designer Harvey Pratt (in black vest at right) as he and other veterans saluted the ceremonial flame. Pratt said, “This memorial is about warriors of the past, warriors of today and warriors of tomorrow.”
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A lance flanks each of the north and south entrances to the center of the memorial, to which visitors can tie “prayer cloths” in remembrance of those who have died. Memorial designer Harvey Pratt said, as the wind blows them, "it shakes that prayer out again.”
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Native American Women Warriors, all veterans of the U.S. armed forces, opened the memorial dedication celebration weekend with the Presentation of the Colors—flags that included one representing those prisoners of war still missing. The festivities continued throughout the weekend with events for attendees to learn about the histories of Native veterans while enjoying cultural and musical performances.
Photo by Matailong Du for the NMAI
Retired Lt. Colonel and Comanche Nation Chairman Mark Woommavovah reads his book “Little Indian Runner” to young visitors as part of the activities offered to families at the museum.
Photo by Matailong Du for the NMAI
Attendees could also write postcards to active-duty service members.
Photo by Matailong Du for the NMAI
The Morongo Bird Singers (Morongo Band of Mission Indians) sang while shaking gourds, performing a traditional song of their tribe at the weekend celebration at the museum.
Photo by Matailong Du for the NMAI
The Akwesasne Women Singers (Mohawk) was another traditional group who performed at the celebration.
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Veteran, actor and filmmaker Wes Studi (Cherokee) joined the stage with eclectic folk, rock and blues musician Keith Secola (Ojibwe), one of the many contemporary artists whose music filled the museum during the weekend celebration.
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Visitors can relive the procession and memorial dedication ceremony at AmericanIndian.si.edu/visit/washington/nnavm-dedication.