National Native American Veterans Memorial

American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian men and women have served in every branch of the United States Armed Forces from the Revolutionary War to the present day, alongside the support and sacrifices of their families. Its symbols represent concepts important to many Native cultures, including the cardinal directions, the elements of water, fire, earth, and air, and the circle. A central fountain evokes a drum, topped by an upright ring that forms an opening to the sky and the spiritual world, while four lances provide places for prayer cloths. Commissioned by the United States Congress, it was designed by Harvey Pratt of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, and Butzer Architects and Urbanism, and it was built through the support of individuals, corporations, foundations, and Native nations.

Washington, District of Columbia · United States