National Native American Veterans Memorial

Located on the grounds of the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Native American Veterans Memorial honors the service of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian veterans, who have served in the United States Armed Forces at higher per-capita rates than any other ethnic group.

Dedicated on Veterans Day 2020, the memorial is the first national monument to recognize Native American military service. It stands as a place of gathering, ceremony, reflection, and healing—open to the public 24 hours a day along the National Mall.

Warriors’ Circle of Honor

The memorial, titled Warriors’ Circle of Honor, was conceived and designed by Harvey Pratt, a Vietnam War veteran and member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. Selected through an international design competition, Pratt’s concept draws on elements shared across many Native cultures—circle, fire, water, wind, drum, and the cardinal directions.

At the center of the memorial, a twelve-foot-tall stainless-steel ring is balanced atop a carved stone drum. Water flows continuously from the drum’s center, and a ceremonial fire can be lit at the base of the circle. A circular seating area, aligned with the cardinal directions, allows visitors to enter from any orientation, reflecting diverse tribal traditions. Surrounding elements include four lances for prayer cloths, a granite title wall honoring the branches of the military, and a landscape that encourages quiet reflection.

Designing with Ceremony, Accessibility, and Landscape

The memorial was realized under the architectural leadership of Quinn Evans, working in collaboration with Butzer Architects and Urbanism and the artist. The design integrates seamlessly with the Museum’s landscape, including a winding path through reconstructed wetlands that emphasizes nature’s role in healing.

Universal accessibility was a core principle of the project, ensuring that veterans, families, and visitors of all abilities could fully and respectfully experience the memorial.

Precision Engineering for a Sacred Place

Mueller Associates provided electrical and plumbing engineering services for the memorial, delivering systems that are largely unseen but essential to its function and symbolism. Mueller’s scope included electric power supply; water and natural gas utilities; plumbing piping and backflow prevention; power and controls for lighting, audiovisual systems, and water features; grounding and raceways for IT systems; and infrastructure supporting the ceremonial fire element.

The project required extraordinary precision. Water systems needed to operate continuously and reliably; lighting had to highlight the stainless-steel circle without disrupting the contemplative atmosphere; and gas systems for ceremonial fire required careful coordination and long-term maintainability—all within a compressed schedule leading up to Veterans Day 2020.

Invisible Systems Supporting Enduring Meaning

At the National Native American Veterans Memorial, engineering is intentionally unobtrusive. Mueller’s systems quietly support ceremony, storytelling, and gathering—allowing the memorial’s artistic vision and cultural meaning to take precedence.

For Mueller Associates, contributing to this long-awaited national tribute represented work that transcended technical accomplishment. It is engineering in the service of memory, respect, and recognition—supporting a place where centuries of service are finally honored in full view of the nation.