Little Bighorn Memorial Complete

GARRYOWEN, Mont. (AP) — A ceremony at the Little Bighorn Battlefield on Wednesday marked the completion of a memorial to Indian warriors — 138 years after their defeat of Lt. Col. George A. Custer and the 7th Cavalry.

The Billings Gazette reports granite panels commemorate the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapho warriors who joined to battle the U.S. Army along with the Crow and Akira scouts who served with the Army.

Most of the panels contain quotes from chiefs and warriors and a list of those who fought and died in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in June 1876.

The memorial also includes a bronze sculpture for three Native American Spirit Warriors riding off to battle.

Arizona State University professor Leo Killsback helped design the memorial. He says it's important to remember that the warriors were fighting to protect the Indian way of life and their homeland.