Throughout history, many soldiers have died never to be identified. After World War I, a movement started in several countries to recognize these soldiers by constructing a tomb for an unknown soldier.
In 1921 these tombs were unveiled in Italy, Portugal, and the United States. Chief Plenty Coups, a Crow Chief, (Montana) was chosen to represent all Native Americans at the dedication of "the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier" at Arlington, Virginia.
During the dedication ceremony Chief Plenty Coup paid tribute to this fallen warrior by laying his coup stick and warbonnet at the tomb. The New York Tribune Nov 7, 2011 reported that Chief Plenty Coos [Coups] would pay tribute to the Unknown Soldier on at a ceremony on November 21, 1921.
 |
| NY Tribune Nov 7, 1921 http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1921-11-07/ed-1/seq-9/ |
http://www.plentycoups.org/educate/content/ssocstudies.html
After World War I there were over 1200 soldiers that were never identified. I remember watching the news after 9/11. They had asked family members to bring in brushes and personal items so they could use the DNA to identify the victims.
I remember turning to Dan and saying, "You will never have to go through that for me. The military has my DNA on record. There will never be another American Unknown Soldier."
