WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today announced that he will serve as an Honorary Member of the National Native American Veterans Memorial Committee.
“I am honored that the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) has offered me the opportunity to serve as an Honorary Member of the National Native American Veterans Memorial Committee,” Hoeven said. “Native Americans enlist in the armed services at a higher rate per capita than any other ethnic group and have bravely served our country for nearly two and a half centuries. I am proud to be a part of recognizing their sacrifice, especially those tribal veterans from my home state of North Dakota.”
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian is building a National Native American Veterans Memorial to honor the long and distinguished service of Native Americans in every branch of the United States Armed Forces. In June, the final Memorial design was selected. The selected design was submitted by Harvey Pratt, a Marine Corps veteran and member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. The NMAI looks to break ground on the Memorial in September of 2019 and hold a Memorial Dedication on Veterans Day 2020.
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