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As the program began for the 60th anniversary
celebration, an eagle circled Crazy Horse Memorial in almost ceremonial fashion.
Over a thousand people took part in the celebration, which included Rapid
City-based drum group Okiciyapi, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe champion hoop dancer
Jasmine Pickner, featured speaker Olympic Gold Medal champion Billy Mills, and
concluded with a dramatic dual blast.
Prefacing his remarks with the audio from his 1964
Olympic gold-medal finish, Mills drew parallels between his dreams and the
dreams of Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear and Korczak Ziolkowski. Chief
Standing Bear, on behalf of other tribal elders, invited Korczak Ziolkowski to
carve the mountain memorial. The private, nonprofit project was officially
dedicated on June 3, 1948. With the mountain carving as the backdrop of the
podium, Mills told the admiring crowd that “We stand before the pursuit of a
sacred dream.” Mills is a member of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation National
Commission, serving as a roving volunteer ambassador. His testimonial about the
importance of the project and how it inspires him is featured in the Memorial’s
visitor orientation program, “Dynamite & Dreams.” To this day, every time he
visits Crazy Horse he “feels the sacredness” and said “Korczak, Ruth and the
family are making the sacred dream come true.” Mills shared the struggles that
he encountered as he pursued his dream and his words were an inspiration to all
in attendance. A portrait of Billy Mills painted by his wife, Pat Mills, was
unveiled as a surprise to the gold medalist. It embodies the strength and spirit
of Mills Lakota heritage and his accomplishments. The painting will be on
display at Crazy Horse for the coming year.
Ruth Ziolkowski, CEO/President of the Crazy Horse
Memorial Foundation, thanked the guests for coming and said with sincere
gratitude that “the people who came here 60 years ago, have come since then and
continue to come” are the reason the memorial still exists today and “with the
continued support, we will be here 60 years from now.”
A display table showcased framed letters, resolutions
and proclamations from South Dakota and surrounding states, the United States
Senate and House of Representatives. They recognized the 60th anniversary of the
commencement of Crazy Horse Memorial and the dedication of Korczak, the
Ziolkowski family and the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation for honoring the
culture, tradition and living heritage of North American Indians and the spirit
of Crazy Horse.
The program ended with two thunderous blasts on the
mountain carving. The first removed 10 tons, replicating the size of the 1948
blast that started the endeavor. A second blast, moving about 1,300 tons,
demonstrated the ongoing commitment to complete the world’s largest sculptural
undertaking, which will be 641 feet long and 563 feet high when completed.
Blast photo:
The 60th anniversary was marked by a ten ton blast on top of the head
replicating the first blast on the mountain in 1948, (inset photo) followed by a
1,300 ton blast to the right of the horse’s head.
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