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CURRENT EVENT | November 15, 2018

National Native American Veterans Memorial

The Smithsonian has selected a design for its National Native American Veterans Memorial to be built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The artist is Harvey Pratt, a Native American veteran from Oklahoma, and his design is called “Warriors’ Circle of Honor.” It aims to engage all Americans in appreciating and learning about the tradition of Native American service. Listen to hear the artist’s reflections on the meaning of his design, how he hopes people will experience it, and why honoring veterans is an important part of his heritage.

Note: Since this story aired, the National Native American Veterans Memorial has opened.

Story Length: 5:12

Listen to the Story:

SOURCE:

National Public Radio © 2018 National Public Radio, Inc. Used with the permission of NPR. All rights reserved.

06/28/2018


Listening Comprehension Questions

  • What is the heritage of the designer of the National Native American Veterans Memorial?
  • What does he mean when he says the memorial is “not a statue”?
  • Why has he incorporated the elements–water, fire, wind, and earth–into his design?
  • What does the artist hope that the memorial will do for people?
  • According to the artist, why is honoring military service important in Native American culture?
  • How does he feel about his design being selected for the memorial on the National Mall?

Classroom Discussion Themes

  • Why do you think the artist titled his memorial design “Warriors’ Circle of Honor”? Support your ideas with details from the story.
  • If you were designing a memorial to honor a person or group that is important to you, what symbols would you incorporate?