Join the National Museum of the American Indian in honoring the enduring and distinguished service of Native Americans in every branch of the US military. Events include a lecture and book reading by US Air Force veteran and children’s author Teresa Lynch-Chrapkiewicz (Navajo) and a conversation on healing veterans with US Air Force veteran and mental health counselor Shannon E. Ayres, and Diné historian and traditional practitioner Shawn Price. The day concludes with the Presentation of Colors by the National Capital Region Native American Color Guard and a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Native American Veterans Memorial.
 

The National Capital Region Native American Color Guard, made up of four Washington, DC-based Indigenous women from different tribes, will bring in the colors. There will be a wreath-laying ceremony along with an Honor Song and drum by Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo).

Portions of the day’s events (marked with * below) will be livestreamed, watch at AmericanIndian.si.edu/livestream.

SCHEDULE

Level 4, Patrons Lounge

• 10 AM–5:30 PM: Veterans Hospitality Suite
  Veterans may take a break from the day's events or gather in this space for conversation; seating and light refreshments provided.

Level 1, Potomac Atrium

• 10 AM–5:30 PM: National Native American Veterans Memorial Information Station
  Visitors may find general information about the memorial on the museum's grounds, and learn about the day's programs.
• 10:15 AM: Opening Prayer
  Diné (Navajo) traditional practitioner Shawn Price will offer an opening prayer and the Diné Tah’ Navajo Dancers will perform the Bow and Arrow Dance.

 Level 1, Rasmuson Theater

• 11 AM*: Keynote by US Air Force veteran Teresa Lynch Chrapkiewicz (Navajo)   
  • Teresa Lynch Chrapkiewicz (Navajo) is the first Navajo woman to receive a pilot's license and was recently honored as a "Hometown Hero" by Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina. Chrapkiewicz is a US Air Force veteran, having served in the Reserve at Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona Air National Guard as a life support technician, and currently teaches science at a secondary school. Chrapkiewicz is also a published author. Her book, The Yaz Tree Recipe: A Navajo Girl’s Dream, details her journey. Chrapkiewicz also volunteers at local schools, sharing her book and encouraging the next generation to pursue their dreams, particularly aspiring aviators.
  • Watch LIVE: https://www.youtube.com/live/zqrJfC_zVeE

Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center: Story Room

• 1 PM: Children’s book reading and signing
  Young visitors and their caregivers are invited to hear US Air Force Veteran and author Teresa Lynch Chrapkiewicz (Navajo) read aloud from her book The Yaz Tree Recipe: A Navajo Girl’s Dream. Chrapkiewicz will sign books for visitors after the reading. Books will be available for purchase in the Roanoke Museum Store on Level 2. Seating in the Story Room is limited. Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3 to reserve seats.

 Level 1, Rasmuson Theater

• 2 PM*: Healing Our Veterans
  Hear from US Air Force veteran and mental health counselor Shannon E. Ayres, and Diné historian and traditional practitioner Shawn Price on the importance of health and healing for service members once they return home to their communities. The conversation will touch on community-based wellness practices rooted in traditional knowledge as well as Western medicine.
• Watch LIVE: https://www.youtube.com/live/yPJHva2zxZ0

 Level 1, Outdoors: Welcome Plaza and National Native American Veterans Memorial

• 4 PM*: Presentation of Colors and Wreath Laying
  The National Capital Region Native American Color Guard, a group of Washington, DC-based Indigenous veterans from communities across the United States, will bring in the colors. Cultural specialist Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) will perform an Honor Song and drum. US Marine Corps veteran Gregorio E. Kishketon (Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma) and US Air Force veteran Teresa Lynch Chrapkiewicz (Navajo) join museum Director Dr. Cynthia Chavez Lamar (San Felipe Pueblo/Hopi/Tewa/Navajo) for a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Native American Veterans Memorial.
• Watch LIVE: https://youtube.com/live/cgfhj_f7nyw
• 4:30–6:30 PM: Lighting of the memorial flame
  Visitors may enter the memorial to reflect, leave offerings such as prayer cloths, and take photos.

Photo by Matailong Du

Major funding provided by The Boeing Company