A memorial that will recognize the patriotism of Native American and Alaskan Native military members and veterans is scheduled to open late 2020 in Washington, D.C., according to a report by the Washington Post on March 29.
The $15 million worth structure will be called “Warriors’ Circle of Honor”. Although the memorial work has been going on for several years, the design details are still being finalized.
Harvey Pratt, member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, is responsible for designing the memorial. Pratt’s design is “an elevated stainless steel circle balanced on an intricately carved stone drum”, which is planned to look “simple and powerful, timeless and inclusive”.
The memorial was planned to be built earlier at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, which opened 10 years later, after the Congress passed the relevant legislation in 1994. However, the legislation didn’t permit the museum to raise money for building the memorial at the time. A new legislation introduced in 2013 paved the way for the fundraising.
National Native American Veterans Memorial will be the first national landmark in Washington, D.C., to acknowledge on the contributions of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians who have served in the army, according to the museum.
It is expected to “create an interactive yet intimate space for gathering, remembrance, reflection, and healing,” the museum says in its announcement, adding that it would “welcome and honor Native American veterans and their families, and educate the public about their extraordinary contributions.”
American Indians and Native Alaskans comprise about one percent of active duty members, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. Of the planned $15 million to be raised for building the memorial, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian has raised $7.6 million to build the memorial on the grounds of the museum.
The memorial will be unveiled at its dedication ceremony in November 2020.