National Mall in Washington, D.C. gets a new Native American Memorial
By Brian Miller
On Veterans Day, a new memorial on the National Mall was unveiled to honor Native Americans.
Native Americans have played a vital and underappreciated role in American history but now, a new memorial on the National Mall pays tribute.
The National Mall, located in Washington, D.C., includes the reflecting pond, Lincoln Memorial and the war memorials, pulled back the curtains on a long overdue memorial honoring Native American veterans.
Located near the Native American museum, the National Native American Veterans Memorial represents the sacrifices of these men and women and their families. The memorial features a steel circle sitting on top of a stone drum with a flame that will be lit every Veterans day, Memorial day, and days that represent the Native American culture.
Designed by Harvey Pratt who is a member of the Oklahoma Cheyenne and Arapaho indian tribes, the sculpture also features a wall next to it with each armed forces emblem.
Located near the Capital Building, this monument is a must visit as is the museum. There are no reservations required to visit the memorial but there may be a need for the Native American museum.
No visit to Washington, D.C. is complete without a walk down the National Mall and now having another reason to walk past the WWII memorial and up the grounds towards the Capital Building is a big bonus.
The contributions of our Native American citizens has long been forgotten and this memorial reminds us all of the sacrifices they have made for a nation that owes them a lifetime of gratitude.