Скачать или смотреть The Gift with Sharron Savage

In celebration of our American Native veterans and the installment the monument called "The Gift" in honor of 250 years of service. “The Gift” is a Monument for the American Indian Alaska Native Veterans Memorial Committee that represents the Native Americans who have served this country for over 250 years as volunteers.

"In every foreign war, including the present conflicts that face our nation today, Native Americans have enlisted in larger numbers than any other group. Currently, studies show that one out of every four American Indian adult males have served or are serving in the U.S. Military. To honor the sacrifice these men gave to this country is the proposed American Indian Veterans Memorial During World War I, Native Americans volunteered to serve in the military, even though Native Americans had not been granted citizenship in their own country. As a result of their sacrifice and extraordinary patriotism, the U.S. Congress granted returning American Indian Veterans citizenship. This action later assisted in promoting citizenship for all Native Americans in 1924. The American Indian Veterans Memorial, as a small token of our nation’s gratitude to the Native Americans, represents gratitude for more than 250 years of service and their sacrifice throughout our nation’s history." - American Indian Veterans Memorial, Riverside National Cemetery Support Committee.

After 20 years, the Memorial Monument “The Gift” will be placed on sacred and historic grounds at Riverside National Cemetery. This stunning monument will be a reminder of the many men and women who served this country.

During the groundbreaking ceremony on May 27, 2019 “The Gift” was officially unveiled at Riverside National Cemetery. In attendance was Vito Imbasciani MD, Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, who spoke to those present saying, “The gift of service to this Nation should always be appreciated whether in times of war or peace. No ethnic group has served at a higher rate than the American Indians and Alaska Natives we honor here today.” Randy C Reeves, VA Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Riverside National Cemetery Committee for the donation that will fund the Memorial.

“As Indian People, we do not take the time to remember and honor our Indian Veterans who serve this country and serve their people on reservations with honor and distinction. Every tribe is proud and talks about their tribal members who are and were Veterans but we have far too long forgotten to show our own Indian Veterans that we as Indian people remember, appreciate and are proud of them and their service. Let the pride be shown now.” -Chairman Bo Mazzetti who is the Honorary Chairman for the American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans Memorial Committee and also the Chairman of the Rincon band of Luiseno Indians in Valley Center California.

“Native Americans have served as members of what is now known as the US. Armed forces in every conflict since America’s founding” -Dr. Edna Friedberg, Historian, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum


Featuring:
-Interview with Chairwoman Sharron Savage of the American Indian Alaska Native Veterans Memorial Committee, which was interviewed on May 15, 2025
-“The Gift” monument by Berkeley Sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg of Schomberg studios.
-USN. Veteran and member of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians Angelo www.morongonation.org

Works Cited
-Altek Media Group Extras. “TheGift Part3”. American Indian Veterans Memorial. Uploaded 31 May 2024.
-American Indian Veterans Memorial-Riverside National Cemetery Support Committee: american-indian-memorial
Feltman, Douglas. “Pow Wow Baraga, Michigan”. YouTube. Uploaded 1 August 2020.
   • 2018 KBIC (Keweenaw Bay Indian Community) ...  
-Keweenaw Bay Indian Community website: kbic
-National Museum of the American Indian, “Topics World War ll”. Website -Smithsonian Institution. 2020. World-war-2
-Schomberg Studios: schombergstudios.com
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “Native American Soldiers: Warriors and Witnesses to the Holocaust” YouTube. Uploaded 6 October 2023.
https://www.youtube.com/live/_dC56m7P...

-Vergun, David. “ “Code Talkers Helped U.S. win WW1 & 2.” US Department of Defense. uploaded 31 October 2024. (Photo) Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Leslie Alcaraz. (Photo)



Filmed and recorded by: Tress Maksimuk
www.darkislepiper.com