Image: War bonnet and coup sticks given to the World War I Unknown by Plenty Coups Chief of the Crow Nation- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - Arlington National Cemetery - 2012-05-19

Description: The war-bonnet and coup-sticks given by Apsáalooke (Crow Nation) chief Aleek-chea-ahoosh (transliterated into English as "Plenty Coups") to the Unknown Soldier of World War I during the individual's burial in the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington National Cemetery in 1921. This is on display in the Memorial Display Room in the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C., in the United States. Originally designed to be a reception hall, this part of Memorial Amphitheater was turned into display area at some point after the amphitheater was dedicated in 1920. The south and north halls contain display cases which contain flags, medals, citations, and other awards given by the United States and other countries to the Unknowns who lie in the vaults at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. Honors given to the Unknowns at the time of their burial are located mostly in the south hall. The north hall also contains the honors given by Aleek-chea-ahoosh to the World War I Unknown in 1921. Chief of the Apsáalooke at the time, Aleek-chea-ahoosh was the sole Native American representative at the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He was dressed in full war regalia and carried two coup-sticks. He gave a speech in his native tongue in honor of the soldier and the occasion. He said: "For the Indians of America, I call upon the Great Spirit of the Red Men with gesture and chant and tribal tongue, that the dead have not died in vain, that war might end, that peace be purchased by the blood of Red men and White." He then removed his war-bonnet and coup-stick and laid them on the tomb. Before the Unknown was lowered into the burial vault, these items -- as well as the U.S. flag and the many war medals bestowed by other nations -- were removed. They are preserved and on display in the Memorial Display Room. The Memorial Display Room occupies most of the ground floor of the west side of Memorial Amphitheater. It is open to the public.
Title: War bonnet and coup sticks given to the World War I Unknown by Plenty Coups Chief of the Crow Nation- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - Arlington National Cemetery - 2012-05-19
Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/23165290@N00/7290359024/
Author: Tim Evanson
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
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