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For Immediate Release Contact: Betsy Hart
May 22, 2008 (202) 226-8555

HOUSE PASSES HERSETH SANDLIN RESOLUTION HONORING 60th ANNIVERSARY OF CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL

May 22nd, 2008-Washington, DC- Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin to commemorate the upcoming 60th anniversary of the Crazy Horse Memorial, which is June 3, 2008. Carving on the Memorial, located in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota, was begun on June 3, 1948. The work was initiated by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, and continues under the oversight of his family. When completed, the Crazy Horse Memorial will be the largest carving in the world, as it recognizes the legacy of Crazy Horse, and honors the contributions of the Lakota nation and all Native Americans.

Rep. Herseth Sandlin entered the following statement into the Congressional Record in support of her bill, H. Res. 1074:

STATEMENT OF CONGRESSWOMAN STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN
H.RES. 1074, HONORING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE CARVING OF THE CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL
MAY 19, 2008

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Today I rise in support of House Resolution 1074 which honors the 60th anniversary of the commencement of the carving of the Crazy Horse Memorial located in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

I was proud to introduce this resolution that recognizes sixty years of work on the Crazy Horse Memorial, which, when completed, will be the largest carving in the world. In 1939, upon witnessing the carving of Mt. Rushmore, Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear contacted sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. Chief Standing Bear encouraged Ziolkowski to create a mountain memorial, writing “My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes, too.”

On June 3, 1948, the mountain was dedicated and carving began. Though Mr. Ziolkowski passed away in 1982, his wife, Ruth, and their family continue to make progress on carving the mountain. To this end, they have established the Crazy Horse Foundation which is dedicated to honoring the culture, tradition, and living heritage of North American Indians and the spirit of Crazy Horse. There is no projected completion date for the Crazy Horse Memorial due to the availability of funding and to natural challenges, such as weather and the structure of the mountain.

On June 3rd, 2008, the Crazy Horse Memorial will commemorate the 60th anniversary since Chief Standing Bear’s dedication of the mountain. I thank my colleagues in joining me in celebrating the accomplishments of the Ziolkowski family, recognizing the legacy of Crazy Horse, and honoring the contributions and sacrifices of the Lakota nation and all Native Americans.

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Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Natural Resources. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Herseth Sandlin was one of only 15 members appointed to serve on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.