Tribe to dedicated memorial on Saturday

PLUMMER - The Coeur d'Alene Tribe will dedicate a new Veterans Memorial at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 29, to honor all veterans who served and protected the United States.

Tribal veterans from across the Inland Northwest are expected to attend the dedication. The ceremony will blend traditional U.S. military protocols and Native American traditions."The memorial looks awesome," said Coeur d'Alene Tribe Chairman Chief Allan. "I am very proud the Tribe was able to honor the warriors who protected this country and our homeland."

Gov. Butch Otter will give the keynote address, along with speeches from tribal officials and U.S. Senator Mike Crapo.The newly constructed memorial is located at the trailhead of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, just off of U.S. 95, directly north of Plummer. The memorial includes a steel sculpture of a tribal warrior riding upon a horse, a pair of granite columns - one featuring an interpretation of the Steptoe Battle, along with several stones that include the names of the Coeur d'Alene Tribal members.

"We've always been the first to serve our country," said Allan. "We're proud Americans. The Coeur d'Alenes have fought and died for this country."The Tribe has identified nearly a hundred individuals who fought and died in battles and wars. Currently, there are about five tribal members serving in the U.S. military.

Indians have the highest rate of service per capita compared to all ethnic groups. There are 190,000 Native American Veterans in the United States. The genesis of the project came from tribal members, veterans, and the Tribe's Cultural Resource Department. A group of architecture and landscape architecture students from Iowa State University worked to develop conceptual designs and plans. Those ideas were blended with ideas from the Tribe's Veterans Committee and local artists.The Rose Creek Singers, a local drumming group will perform and the U.S. Air Force will have a color guard and honor guard firing party.

The free event is open to the public. Lunch will be served after the dedication ceremony, which should take about an hour.