During our trip to the Black Hills, I believe that the most significant memorial that we visited was Crazy Horse.

Don’t get me wrong. Mt Rushmore was over the top….amazing! My pride as an American, and love of country, brought tears to my eyes.

However, being married to Mr. Moo Cow for 45 yrs., the care of the land is vastly important to our family. So when you read further on, you’ll understand how the visit to The Crazy Horse Memorial, so touched my heart.

Two of my husband’s favorite quotes that he reiterates to the boys are the following;

*”You take care of the land, and the land will take care of you.”

* The job is not over til the work is done.”

Keep these quotes in mind for further reference.

When you visit history, and understand the mindset of the era in 1876, you can easily understand why the Indian tribes banned together to fight at The Little Bighorn. It was about self-preservation of their way of life and culture.

Crazy Horse was a leader from the time he was young. The main reason that he gained so much wisdom, is because he surrounded himself with the elders. He listened to their life experience. He processed.

He wore a stone earring in one ear. I believe that this was a foreshadow of his prophetic quote, ”I will return to you in stone.”

The sculpture was begun in 1948, right after WWII. Korczack, the man who initiated the carved memorial, originally worked on Mt. Rushmore for a year.

After the war, a Native American Brotherhood met with Korczack, and convinced him, that he was the man to head the memorial. The decision was made final, once the Brotherhood realized that he and Crazy Horse shared the same birthday of May 6.

Upon arrival, you can view the face of the great chief. Which at this point in time, is the only part completed. The memorial will never be completed in my lifetime.

In 2011, an entire new building was opened. It contains the following: A movie theater, museums, restaurant, gift shops, huge plaza with the original Crazy Horse Sculpture, and a viewing patio.

The first thing we did upon entry was to view the movie. Mrs. Korczack, who just passed in 2014, was the narrator. She and her husband had 10 children, of which 7 of them have remained loyal to the memorial.

The following is information given by Mr. in the film: “I worked with Gutson Borglum at Mt. Rushmore for a year. He passed in 1941 at the onset of the WWII. When he passed, work on Rushmore stopped. Originally the figures were to be sculpted down to the waistline of the Presidents.”

Before K passed in 1982, he told his sons,

“Finish the work, get the job done. Take care of this land.”

Sound familiar? It’s my husband’s quote. Any man who is a caretaker of God’s land is a proud, hard working individual.

Well, being away from my man for 2 weeks, the tears started streaming. My friends that were with me understood my tears. However, the people seated around me may have been thinking, “OOPS! I’m sitting next to Mrs. Crazy Horse!”

After touring the facility, we then took a bus trip up the mountain to get a closer shot for pictures. The tour guide encouraged us to get a book in the gift shop that explains the future of the memorial.

Here are some interesting facts that will occur in the future:

• There will be a Native American University established in the future.
• Summer Academy for college credit is already in progress.
• The sculpture: When complete, Crazy Horse will be visible to the waist…sitting upon his horse….his arm…extended…resting on his horse’s mane.. finger pointing East.
• Carved beneath the sculpture the chief’s famous quote: “My land is where my people lie buried.”

Of course, due to the teacher in me, I bought books wherever I went. Therefore,

I’ve read everything I could get my hands on. Plus, I have tons of info for grandkids.

History has proven many atrocities against the Native American Culture. In the 141 years since the Battle of The Little Bighorn, pride in Native American History has become a popular vane of education.

The demise of Crazy Horse is a sad one, but typical for the times. He was summoned to a fort for peace talks. Instead they tried to imprison him. In a scuffle to escape, he was killed.

What I took from this visit was twofold:

*The love of country and care of the land.

*The respect that one must attain for different cultures.

History repeats itself…..I hope we all learned something.