Staff report
A Smithsonian traveling exhibition is making a stop in Rio Rancho.
The exhibition, Why We Serve: Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces, will be at the Loma Colorado Main Library from March 24 to June 1.
The exposition explores Native military involvement and service from its origins in the American Revolution to the present.
The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, which organizes Why We Serve in collaboration with the National Museum of the American Indian, highlights 250 years of Native American contributions to U.S. military history.
According to a press release, visitors will be able to learn about the different eras in Native military history, including the 19th-century Army scouts, the Native code talkers of both World Wars, Native women during World War II and service in Vietnam and the Middle East.
A short film is also set to be shown. The film features an insightful look into real-life stories of Native American veterans across the United States Armed Forces with diverse viewpoints and personal testimonies about their service.
The display also honors the National Native American Veterans Memorial, which was dedicated in 2020.
To complement the display, the Rio Rancho Library and Information Services Department will be hosting related events such as:
- March 29: Presentation on Chester Nez, WWII Navajo Code Talker, from 2-3 p.m.
- April 12: Screening of “Honor Song: A Documentary Showcase” with a Q&A from 2-4:30 p.m.
- May 17: Community Conversations with Native American veterans from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
For details on the exhibit or related events, the official Rio Rancho website provides more information.
This exhibit is part of SITES (Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service), which intends to bring Smithsonian exhibitions and research to communities across the United States.
For exhibition descriptions and tour schedules, the SITES website has complete details on this and all their traveling exhibitions.