Design Chosen for National Native American Veterans Memorial

Eagle-feather war bonnets adorn U.S. military uniform jackets at a Ton-Kon-Gah (Black Leggings Society) ceremonial, held annually to honor Kiowa tribal veterans. Near Anadarko, Oklahoma, 2006. 

National Museum of the American Indian

Gus Palmer (Kiowa, at left), side gunner, and Horace Poolaw (Kiowa), aerial photographer, in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress. MacDill Field, Tampa, Florida, ca. 1944. 45UFL14. © 2014 Estate of Horace Poolaw. Reprinted with permission.

Artist's rendering of the National Native American Veterans Memorial, designed by Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne/Arapaho)

Military service record of John Montour, ca. 1781, John Montour (Lenape [Delaware]/Métis, 1744–1788) was a cultural mediator during the Revolutionary War between his people and Euro-Americans. He also served the Americans as captain of a company of Lenape soldiers.

Military service record of John Montour, ca. 1781, John Montour (Lenape [Delaware]/Métis, 1744–1788) was a cultural mediator during the Revolutionary War between his people and Euro-Americans. He also served the Americans as captain of a company of Lenape soldiers.

Lauren Good Day Giago (Sahnish [Arikara]/Minitari [Hidatsa]/Niitsitapii [Blackfoot/Blackfeet]/Plains Cree), A Warrior's Story, Honoring Grandpa Blue Bird, 2012.

Harvey Pratt in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Photo by R.D. Pratt, courtesy of Harvey Pratt

Harvey Pratt, the designer whose concept was selected to create the Smithsonian’s National Native American Veterans Memorial for the National Museum of the American Indian is a Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal member. He is a self-taught artist from Oklahoma and a forensic artist.

General Douglas MacArthur, commander-in-chief of the Allied forces in the South Pacific, on an inspection trip of American battle fronts, late 1943.