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Virtual Veteran's Day event planned to celebrate National Native American Veterans Memorial, designed by Oklahoma artist Harvey Pratt

Daily Oklahoman - 8/11/2020

Aug. 11--WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian will host a virtual event on Nov. 11, which is Veterans Day, to mark the completion of the National Native American Veterans Memorial and acknowledge the service and sacrifice of Native veterans and their families.

As previously reported, Oklahoma artist Harvey Pratt, a Vietnam War veteran and member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, is the designer of the National Native American Veterans Memorial.

Construction has continued on the memorial despite the coronavirus pandemic, which prompted the museum to shift to a virtual Veterans Day event instead of the planned in-person ceremony to commemorate the completion of the memorial.

"There were a number of factors that contributed to our decision not to host a dedication ceremony or veterans' procession this November, most importantly current health and safety guidelines," according to a post on the museum's Facebook. "When it is safe to do so, the museum will reschedule both the dedication ceremony and the procession so we may honor Native veterans and their families. We will continue to share updates with you about the timing for these events, and we strongly encourage you to postpone your visit to the memorial and the museum until then."

As previously reported, the National Museum of the American Indian hosted last September the groundbreaking for the National Native American Veterans Memorial, which is on the grounds of the museum in Washington, D.C.

At this time, the museum -- along with most of the other Smithsonian Institution attractions -- remains closed due to the pandemic. The museum does not have a confirmed date for its reopening, according to Facebook.

"Thank you for your support. We look forward to celebrating the memorial's completion virtually in November 2020 and welcoming everyone to Washington, D.C., for the dedication ceremony and procession when it is safe to do so," according to the museum's Facebook statement.

As previously reported, Pratt, an award-winning artist based in Guthrie, was named in 2018 the winner of the National Native American Veterans Memorial design contest. His design concept, titled "Warriors' Circle of Honor" was selected unanimously by the jury for the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.

The memorial is located prominently on the Washington, D.C., museum's grounds on the National Mall, which draws nearly 24 million visitors a year -- when there isn't a pandemic happening.

"We'll be in the company of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument. We'll be in that company," Pratt told me in a 2018 interview. "I think that reality is just going to hit us in the face full force for quite a while."

The National Museum of the American Indian was commissioned by Congress to build the National Native American Veterans Memorial. Native Americans serve in the U.S. military at a higher rate per capita than any other population group, according to the Smithsonian.

An internationally known painter, sculptor and forensic artist, Pratt retired in 2017 as the forensic artist for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation after a more than 50-year career in law enforcement. He's also a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Marine Corps, and he said the idea of a National Native American Veterans Memorial resonated with him.

Pratt's "Warrior's Circle of Honor" design has as its focal point an elevated stainless-steel circle that symbolizes the cycles of life and death as well as unity among Native veterans. Since the memorial is supposed to represent all Native Americans and not one specific tribe, the artist said he incorporated symbols that are universal among American Indian nations, including the cardinal directions, sacred colors and the elements of the Earth.

Pratt had to assemble a team of architects, engineers and contractors to build his "Warriors' Circle." He recruited Oklahoma City architects Hans and Torrey Butzer, who have earned international acclaim for their work on the Oklahoma City National Memorial and the Skydance Bridge.

They assembled a team that included fellow Oklahoma firms Obelisk Engineering and Guernsey Engineers, as well as out-of-state companies that employ Oklahoma talents. For the team, Pratt also recruited his wife, Gina Pratt, and his son and fellow artist Nathan Pratt.

For more information on the National Museum of the American Indian and National Native American Veterans Memorial, go to americanindian.si.edu.

For more information on Harvey Pratt, go to harveypratt.com.

-BAM

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