A first-of-its-kind monument recognizing the contributions of Native American military service members throughout history will be officially dedicated Saturday at Riverside National Cemetery, where a ceremony is planned involving representatives from several tribes.
The “American Indian Veterans Memorial” will be unveiled at 10:30 a.m. Saturday during a service that will begin at the cemetery Amphitheater and conclude at the foot of the memorial, situated across the cemetery pond, at 22495 Van Buren Blvd.
The program will be free and open to the public. Hundreds are expected to turn out for the event.
“The American Indian Veterans Memorial is a long-awaited and overdue tribute to Native veterans who have served and sacrificed for this country,” according to a statement from the American Indian-Alaska Native Veterans Committee. “American Indians and Alaska Natives are estimated to serve in the United States Armed Forces at five times the national average and have fought with distinction in every major conflict for more than 200 years.”
The monument features a Native American man draped in the Stars & Stripes, holding a commemorative medallion, bearing a few other distinctive features. According to the committee, of the 155 national cemeteries established nationwide, the only one now hosting a monument specifically recognizing Native Americans is Riverside National Cemetery.
It was funded by private individual contributions, nonprofits and donations from various tribes. The total cost of the monument wasn’t specified, but the committee confirmed the effort to erect it had been underway since 2006.
Before his death last year, the committee’s chairman, Bo Mazzetti, said sacrifices of American Indians in wartime and the high percentage that join the U.S. military to this day merited special recognition.
“The Indian people, whatever the differences in geography, languages, spiritual or cultural practices, there is one common value, and that is to protect one’s home and people,” Mazzetti said in 2025. “The warrior spirit is bred into Indians, and warriors are highly honored and respected. That’s why we feel strongly that our veterans deserve … a memorial to stand with the other sacred monuments dedicated to the heroes who have served our country.”
Saturday’s service will feature bird singing and traditional dances to pay homage to fallen warriors. Representatives from the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and other tribes are slated to be on hand.
The ceremony is expected to conclude about 2:30 p.m.