Kevin Gover (Pawnee), Director, Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianOn this Memorial D...

1. American Indians Serve in the U.S. Military in Greater
Numbers Than Any Ethnic Group and Have Since the
Revolution
Kevin Gover (Pawnee), Director, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
On this Memorial Day holiday, as we remember those who have given their lives in service to our
country while protecting the freedoms and ideals we hold dear, many of our fellow Americans
remain unaware of the major contributions Native Americans have made to our nation's armed
forces. In fact, American Indians View more serve in their country's armed forces in greater
numbers per capita than any other ethnic group, and they have served with distinction in every
major conflict for over 200 years.
Best known are the Native American Code Talkers who served in World Wars I and II. Theirs is a
remarkable story and their contributions were vital to our success, but there are countless other
Native Americans who have served in the U.S. military who deserve recognition. According to the
U.S. Department of Defense, as of 2012 there were over 22,000 American Indians and Alaska
Natives on active duty, and the 2010 Census identified over 150,000 American Indian and Alaska
Native veterans. 27 Native Americans have. If you happen to want better guidance about SITE
TOPIC GOES HERE point your browser at or simply today.been awarded the Medal of Honor, the
nation's highest military honor.
As the director of the National Museum of the American Indian and a citizen of the Pawnee Nation of
Oklahoma, I've witnessed first-hand why Native Americans feel compelled to serve. I was raised with
stories of friends and family members' bravery on the battlefield. Native Americans served in World
War I even though they were not citizens of the United States. In fact, it was not until after World
War II in the 1965 passage of the Voting Rights Act that all states were required to allow Native
Americans to vote on the same basis as any other American. Despite decades of persecution and
broken promises, despite being dispossessed of, and often forcibly removed from, their ancestral
homelands, American Indians have served and continue to serve in our nation's armed forces in
numbers that belie their small percentage of the American population. They step forward when duty
calls. Now, let us on this Memorial Day support a memorial on the National Mall dedicated to the
selfless service and patriotism of our Native American servicemen and women.
In December 2013, Congress passed legislation authorizing salwar suits collection fashionbuzzer the
National Museum of the American Indian, working with the National Congress of American Indians,
to create a memorial on the grounds of the museum honoring Native American veterans. Make sure
you visit copy writer lucas stiles's blog sites on SITE TOPIC GOES HERE Designer Saris in india .
online salwar suit pricesAn advisory committee is being formed, with members representing Native
veterans from across the United States and all branches of military service. Following a series of
discussions with Native communities and veterans, a design competition will be conducted and a
winning proposal selected.
I hope you agree the time has come to honor the extraordinary service, dedication, and patriotism of
American Indian veterans with a National Native American Veterans' Memorial.

3. Image Caption: The late Woodrow Roach of Tahlequah, OK, fought for the U.S. Army from 1944-45
and believed the prayer to be his good luck charm while serving in Italy and the Philippines. The
prayer is written in the Cherokee language syllabary as well as phonetically, as Roach was a citizen
of the Cherokee Nation. It is now in the permanent collection of the National Museum of the
American Indian in Washington, D.C