In the News
April 8, 2017
A blessing event at the Riverside National Cemetery --
A NATIONAL SHRINE
A traditional honoring & cultural tribute to American Indian, Alaska Native and all warriors at their sacred resting place.
CLICK HERE TO SEE BLESSING CEREMONY PROGRAM
March 2017
San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino Hosts "The Gift"
Guests entering San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino will be welcomed by a ¼ scale version of “The Gift.” Representing the United States’ gratitude to the American Indian for over 200 years of military service and sacrifice, The Gift presents a Native soldier draped in a Colonial US flag.
March 2017
Press Release - April Veterans Honoring & Blessing Ceremony Planned for Riverside National Cemetery by American Indians and Alaska Natives
SAVE THE DATE - APRIL 8, 2017
March 2017
Wayne Newton - AIAN Veterans Memorial 30 Sec Public Service Announcement from FNX First Nations Experience
February 2017
View and Download our updated 4-fold
SAVE THE DATE! April 8, 2017
A blessing event at the Riverside National Cemetery --
A NATIONAL SHRINE
A traditional honoring & cultural tribute to American Indian, Alaska Native and all warriors at their sacred resting place.
Click here to see/download the Blessing Ceremony announcement flier
October 2016
$25,000 Donation from Pechanga Charity Golf Classic
Thank you! Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians
April 2016
March 2016
October 2015
Click here to see Governor Brown's Proclamation
Sacramento, CA
Governor Brown Recognizes the Distinguished and Honorable record of Native Americans in Military Service
Governor Brown signed a proclamation declaring October, 2015, as “Native American Veterans Month.” In his proclamation, Governor Brown highlighted October, 1918, which was the last great battle of WWI for the American Expeditionary Force. This battle, the Meuse-Argonne offensive cost a total of over 26,000 American lives. And, it was during this terrible battle that the United States Military first made use of Native American languages as a way to defeat our enemies, saving many American lives.
In spite of our nation’s practices and policies towards its native people, Native Americans have been extraordinarily courageous and loyal in service to our nation. Governor Brown recognized, through his proclamation, that Native Americans have the highest rates of military service of any ethnic group. He states, “Our California Tribes, among the last to be contacted by immigrants of European descent and the most devastated by disease and mistreatment, have their own roll of American heroes dating back to the First World War.”
In recognition of the distinguished and honorable record of Native Americans in military service, Governor Brown stated it is fitting to have a monument placed at the Riverside National Cemetery, and urged fellow Californians to join him in supporting this effort. Riverside National Cemetery is currently the most active national cemetery. It is the place where one Native American Code Talker, Joe Morris, Sr. was laid to rest. Inscribed on his headstone are these fitting words: “MY WEAPON WAS MY LANGUAGE.”
Learn more about the efforts to build the first-ever national monument dedicated to Native American and Alaska Natives in a national cemetery at: aianveteransmonument.com
October 8, 2015
September 22, 2015
September 22, 2015
Riverside, CA –
MEDIA ADVISORY
September 18, 2015
Contacts:
Alex Tortes, co-Chair
American Indian & Alaska Native Veterans Monument Committee
(951) 227-1147
Mary Parks, Committee Member
(909) 227-0004
Elected officials to recognize veterans monument effort with proclamation
RIVERSIDE - Riverside County’s Board of Supervisors will present a Proclamation of Support for efforts that are underway to build the first-ever monument dedicated to American Indian & Alaska Native Veterans in a national cemetery.
The presentation will take place on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. at the County Administrative Center, 4080 Lemon Street, Riverside, CA 92501.
Joining elected officials for the Proclamation of Support will be Tribal Leaders, American Indian Veterans, Sherman Indian High School students and Cultural Ambassador, and Riverside County Veteran Advocates. The 30 minute presentation will include a cultural song & dance.
The American Indian & Alaska Native Veterans Monument Committee was formed to provide support, awareness, and funding for the historic project. The monument will be placed in a prominent location at Riverside National Cemetery, the most active national cemetery in the country.
September 22, 2015
Riverside, CA – A historic day! The Riverside County Board of Supervisors present a Proclamation in Support of the American Indian & Alaska Native Veterans Monument to be built at the Riverside National Cemetery.
August 2015
Coachella Valley – KESQ - CBS Local 2
Co-chair Alex Tortes (Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Tribal Member) shares in a live interview about the plans to build the first-ever monument dedicated to American Indian & Alaska Native veterans in a national cemetery. The live interview was posted to our Facebook page and received thousands of views!
July 2015
Tule River Reservation – Committee members Alex Tortes and Cindy Pierce had the privilege of meeting Commander Stanley Santos and a few of the other veterans from the Tule River Native Veterans Post 1987. This post was the first all Native American post in the Nation, established in 1987.
Commander Santos will be working together with us to get the message out on our efforts to build the first monument in a national cemetery dedicated to AIAN veterans!
Click here to see more about the Tule River Native Veterans Post 1987
June 2015
National – National Corporation, Swift Transportation, lives up to its name in being swift to donate to the first-ever monument in a national cemetery dedicated to American Indian & Alaska Native veterans. Swift Charities is the formal charitable arm of Swift Transportation and is funded by voluntary payroll contributions from employees and corporate matching.
Swift employees are encouraged to be active members of their communities and volunteer with local service organizations when time permits. These non-profit organizations may benefit from a Community Grant when endorsed by an employee.
Thank you, Ramon Pedraza Sr. for your endorsement!
Click here to see Swift Charities Donation Letter.
Banning – Some of our veterans were able to join us at the Morongo Cultural Days. We shared with many of our friends about our goal to build the first-ever AIAN veterans monument in a national cemetery. THANK YOU to all who supported us!
May 2015
National – President Obama has again asked Commander Don Loudner, National American Indian Veterans, Inc. to lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in honor of American Indians and Alaska Native veterans.
Commander Loudner has invited retired U.S. Army officer of 20 years active duty service, Jefferson Keel, to have the honor of placing the wreath. Jefferson Keel serves as Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation and was the former president of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).
Amongst Commander Loudner’s many priorities in nationally representing American Indian and Alaska Native veterans’ issues, he is promoting the efforts to build the first-ever national monument dedicated to the American Indian Veterans at the most active national cemetery, Riverside National Cemetery. Frank Ramirez, National Director of Governmental Affairs, Office of the National Commander, Native American Indian Veterans, Inc., is working closely with the American Indian & Alaska Native Veterans Monument Committee.
Click to Download
B Roll - Heroes Remembered at RNC
Riverside National Cemetery is the final resting place for heroes such as:
Joe Morris, Sr., Indian Code Talker; Perry Willis Lindsey, Tuskegee Airman; and Lillian Kinkela Keil, Capt. USAF
Click to see archives (print/download options)
Click to see archives
November 10, 2014
CAMPAIGN KICKOFF
at the proposed site of the
AMERICAN INDIAN VETERANS MEMORIAL
Riverside – The American Indian Veterans Memorial Campaign Kickoff took place near the proposed site of the memorial. This site is significant as it is already an approved site by U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs and is located at the most active national cemetery in the United States (and is the 3rd largest in terms of total land designated for use).
Multi-media Journalist, Terria Smith from First Nations Experience (FNX) conducted live interviews with various members of the American Indian & Alaska Native Veterans Monument Committee. These interviews detailed the history of the project, current goals and the projected timeline for the eventual construction of the American Indian Veterans Memorial.
The purpose of the monument is to honor the legacy of American Indian & Alaska Native (AIAN) Veterans who have served in the
U. S. military. Organizers are seeking 111,000 sponsorships which represents the number of AIAN Veterans who have demonstrated courage and dedication in defending their country since WWI. The American Indian Veterans Memorial will be the first national memorial to specifically honor the unprecedented service of American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans at any of our nation's cemeteries.
Media & Information:
Terria Smith 760-449-4191 [email protected]
November 13, 2014
FACE 2 FACE
Interview about the
AMERICAN INDIAN VETERANS MEMORIAL
Riverside – Committee Member, Alex Tortes, was interviewed by Mary Parks on November 13, 2014 in preparation for her upcoming airing of Face 2 Face, Government Television (GTV) Channel 3.
Media & Information:
Mary Parks 951-396-0428 [email protected]
Dec. 11, 12, 13, 2014
REZ RIDERS' SUPPORT EFFORTS!
Information Table
AMERICAN INDIAN VETERANS MEMORIAL
Palm Springs – Information Table at the 14th Annual National Indian Nations Conference, Palm Springs, CA. Local Rez Riders will be joining us in sharing the message! Many Rez Riders are U.S. Military Veterans.
December 2014
CHRISTMAS AD CAMPAIGN
FIRST NATIONS EXPERIENCE (FNX)
National – The American Indian Veterans Memorial is running a Christmas ad on the First Nations Experience (FNX) website throughout the month of December. In addition to this ad, Christmas themed postcards were mailed out at the beginning of December to Tribal Nations throughout the United States.
Remember Your WARRIORS This Christmas!
When an eagle feather falls to the ground ... from a dancer's regalia during a ceremonial dance, it is treated like a fallen soldier -- and must be attended to immediately by military veterans with honor, care and respect.
January 2015
JON PETTIBONE
Ho-Chunk Nation, Wisconsin
NEW COMMITTEE MEMBER
National – The American Indian Veterans Monument Committee welcomes a new member, Jon Pettibone, Ho-Chunk Nation. Jon tells us of the great pride his people have for one of their own, Mitchell Red Cloud Jr., who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions.
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