Cherokees honoring veterans at tribal center
Admiral Joseph J. ‘Jocko’ Clark, (1893-1971) was a native of the Cherokee Nation and the first Native American to graduate from the United States Naval Academy, in 1917. United States Navy Photo 80-G-402229 – Naval History and Heritage http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/prs-tpic/namer/namer-early.htm. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Newly installed displays at the Tahlequah-based Cherokee Nation Veterans Center feature tributes to Lt. Jack C. Montgomery and Adm. Joseph J. Clark. They are two of the most highly decorated Cherokee citizens to have ever served in the U.S. military.
The tribe estimates there are more than 4,000 Cherokee veterans, and it says it is honoring those citizens and their service by presenting many of their stories, artifacts and memorabilia to the public.
The $2 million center, which was tribally funded, features 25 pieces of military-themed artwork from American Indian artists and 16 display cases showcasing multiple Cherokee veterans’ military regalia.
There are a dozen other cases displaying vintage wartime newspapers and various memorabilia.
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ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE
Admiral Joseph J. ‘Jocko’ Clark, (1893-1971) was a native of the Cherokee Nation and the first Native American to graduate from the United States Naval Academy, in 1917. United States Navy Photo 80-G-402229 – Naval History and Heritage http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/prs-tpic/namer/namer-early.htm. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
