During the eighteen sixty-two Minnesota-Indian War, Dakota men fought for their people's welfare and their country. This memorial honors the thirty-eight Dakota men hanged at Mankato, Minnesota, on December twenty-sixth, eighteen sixty-two, because they fought for the people's welfare and their country. It also says that Chief Taoyateduta is buried here and lists many Dakota and later service members connected with World War One, World War Two, Korea, the Reserves, and Vietnam.