WASHINGTON -- The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian announced the winner of its memorial design contest Tuesday morning.
Harvey Pratt, a Cheyenne and Araphao veteran artist, was chosen out of over 400 submissions for his design concept for the National Native American Veterans Memorial.
It will be called “Warrior’s Circle of Honor” to recognize the American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian veterans of American.
"Through meeting thousands of Native American veterans, I learned most of all about the commitment these veterans have to the well-being of the United States,” said Kevin Gover (Pawnee), director of the museum. “These veterans are perfectly aware that they are serving a country that had not kept its commitments to Native people, and yet they chose—and are still choosing—to serve. This reflects a very deep kind of patriotism. I can think of no finer example of service to the United States and the promise it holds.”
The memorial aims to celebrate the entire people of American Indians, not just one specific event.
It will be built on the grounds of the museum in Washington, D.C. Groundbreaking for the memorial is slated for September 21, 2019, and will be completed in late 2020.
