From American Homefront:
The National Mall in Washington, D.C. is generally quiet these days, as the resurgent COVID-19 pandemic keeps people home and the Smithsonian museums shuttered.
But those who do venture to its quiet paths will find something new – the National Native American Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the Museum of the American Indian. The memorial opened on Veterans Day with a virtual ceremony.
Former Colorado Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a member of the Northern Cheyenne, was instrumental in the museum’s creation; the bill to authorize it was among the first he passed in Congress.
“I join my Native brothers and sisters in our love for our country and our willingness to don the uniform of the United States to defend her when our nation needs us most,” Campbell, a Korean War veteran, said in a video the museum produced to mark the new memorial’s unveiling. “I take great pride in my service to our nation, and the service of our Native American people throughout the nation.”
The heart of the leafy memorial is a tall silver ring. Water flows around its base, and the surrounding plaza is ringed by sculpted lances where people can attach prayer flags, as well as benches to sit and contemplate.