Byline: Kaylea Berry/Reporter
OKMULGEE, Oklahoma – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Veterans Affairs Services Office is taking ten Mvskoke Veterans to Washington D.C. for the Native Veterans Procession and Dedication Ceremony on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. The Native Veterans Procession and Dedication Ceremony is to honor American Indian, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiian veterans and their families. The ceremony will include a 0.7-mile-long procession along the National Mall from the National Museum of the American Indian to a stage in front of the U.S. Capitol.
The VASO created an application for able-bodied veterans to submit in hopes of being selected for one of the ten slots to participate in the events. An outside selection committee of five individuals decided on eight males and two females to fill the slots. The VASO went to the National Council to receive funding for the trip and was awarded the funds.
“It’s something that we felt like we needed to do because this is a dedication ceremony that was supposed to have been done a couple of years ago, but with covid, they couldn’t do it this last year,” said Grover Wind, MCN VASO Director. “They’re doing a dedication because of all the sacrifice and service of the different Native Americans that have served this country in different uniforms, times, and eras.”
The Mvskoke veterans chosen to participate in the procession and dedication of the National Native American Veterans Memorial are not only able to be a part of a historical moment but will also proudly represent the tribe.
The memorial is called “Warriors’ Circle of Honor” and was designed by Oklahoma native Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne/Arapaho). Pratt is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served from 1962 to 1965 in Vietnam. Pratt’s design was unanimously selected by a group of Native and non-Native jurors out of over 120 submissions from other artists across the nation.
Pratt’s design is a raised stainless steel circle supported by a stone drum with elaborate carvings. The memorial gives a lively yet private setting for fellowshipping, remembering, reflecting, and healing. The design incorporates water for ceremonies, seats for gathering and reflecting, and four lances for tying praying and healing cloths. It is a place to remember and honor and educate everyone about Native American contributions and sacrifices. A fire can be lit at the monument’s base on ceremonial occasions.
According to the National Museum of the American Indian’s website, “In 2013, Congress passed legislation authorizing the NMAI to create a National Native American Veterans Memorial to give ‘all Americans the opportunity to learn of the proud and courageous tradition of service of Native Americans in the Armed Forces of the United States.” (https://americanindian.si.edu/visit/washington/nnavm)
The celebration will continue Saturday and Sunday after Veterans Day. The weekend activities include meeting the designer and authors, music and cultural performances, films, and hands-on activities. The activities are open to everyone, and the “Make a Paper Star Quilt for Veterans” and “Storytime” activities are recommended for children 2-10 years old.
The event is open to the public and free of charge. The procession and dedication ceremony will be live-streamed on the National Museum of the American Indian’s website. (https://americanindian.si.edu/visit/washington/nnavm-dedication?fbclid=IwAR0NzzLHjs_8nZS9Q7yPpW6j0i2Q4jFWs62t1hEBxRwbNW7-yDELvfmvgGg)
