(Image source from: Smithsonian Magazine)

The Washington D.C.'S, Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, has proclaimed the winning concept for what will become the National Native American Veterans Memorial, in an intent to accolade the ample contributions of American Indians in the United States military.

The National Museum of American Indian noted that "More than 12,000 American Indians served in World War I—about 25 percent of the male American Indian population at that time. During World War II, when the total American Indian population was less than 350,000, an estimated 44,000 Indian men and women served." Since 9/11, American Indians have served in the U.S. military at a rate that is higher than any other ethnic group.

In World War II, American Indians served as "code talkers" who played an important role in keeping military communications concealed. The Navajo is best known for playing this role, but members of an estimated 30 American Indian nations were involved. The museum's website adds that "The Navajo and Hopi were assigned to service in the Pacific in the war against Japan. The Comanches fought the Germans in Europe, and the Meskwakis fought them in North Africa. Code Talkers from other tribes fought at various locations in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa, and elsewhere."

The number of American Indian veterans has since increased. Chow notes that the 2010 census found more than 156,000 veterans identified as American Indian and Alaska Native.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense figures, today 31,000 American Indians and Alaskan Natives serve in the military and 140,000 living American Indian are veterans.

Construction of the memorial is expected to begin on September 21, 2019, with the final memorial slated to be formally unveiled on Veterans Day, November 11th in 2020.

The memorial will sit on the National Mall in Washington, DC, notes Chow, and "Pratt envisions a clear view of the U.S. Capitol's dome from there."

By Sowmya Sangam