Honoring Native American veterans and their service
The BNSF Railway Foundation donated $500,000 to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian to help create a memorial to honor Native American veterans and the sacrifices they made. The site, titled Warriors’ Circle of Honor, was unveiled on Veterans Day. An elevated stainless-steel circle balanced on an intricately carved stone drum, the design of the National Native American Veterans Memorial is simple and powerful, timeless and inclusive. The design incorporates water for sacred ceremonies, benches for gathering and reflection, and four lances where veterans, family members, tribal leaders and others can tie cloths for prayers and healing. The memorial creates an interactive yet intimate space for gathering, remembrance, reflection and healing. It welcomes and honors Native American veterans and their families and educates the public about their extraordinary contributions. Learn more here.
Encouraging a love of reading in children
The BNSF Railway Foundation provided a grant to Raising Readers in Wyoming to give new books to families in Laramie, Converse, Natrona and Campbell Counties. Raising Readers in Wyoming encourages parents to read to their young children by providing beautiful new books as part of the well child health care visits. Since 2002, more than 457,618 books have been distributed in all 23 Wyoming counties. In 2019 alone, there were 27,635 children’s and families’ lives changed through reading. Learn more here.
