"My Lands Are Where My People Are Buried"

In the Black Hills of South Dakota, about 20 miles from Mount Rushmore, is the carving of Crazy Horse that is taking shape. The carving on the left is what it will look like when finished. On the right was the state of the carving as of the summer of 2008. To give some idea of how big it is, the hole in the mountain below what will be the arm is ten stories high. This dwarfs the carvings on Rushmore.

The completion of this effort is at least 50 years away. It is now in about its 30th year of work. No tax money is being used on the project. This is so much more interesting than Rushmore that is is hard to compare the two.

The visitor center is large and filled with prints and pictures like the one above. Some of you no doubt know the story of the Pema Indian from Arizona, Ira Hayes, who was one of the flag raisers it Iwo Jima. You have seen the famous statue near Arlington Cemetery and the Pentagon. This picture puts Ira Hayes in native dress, a most moving rendition of that courageous event.

Accompanying the statue of Carzy Horse, one of the suvivors of Little Big Horn, is his famous statement, "My lands are where my people are buried." If you are taking a trip out west and are anywhere near, this is one of the great places to visit in this country.