CHEYENNE, OK -- Congressman Frank Lucas, who led the effort in Congress to add the Washita National Battlefield Historic Site to the National Park Service, presented forty-four Peace Medals to traditional leaders of the Cheyenne-Arapaho tribe of Oklahoma at a ceremony today. The event, held at the Washita site, also marked the transfer of the battlefield land from the state of Oklahoma to the National Park Service (NPS).

"I'm thrilled with the great progress we have made in making this historic site a part of the National Park system," said Lucas. "Many fine people at the federal, state and local levels worked diligently to see this significant step become reality.

"This site will be a solemn reminder of the struggle of the plains indians and the U.S. Army's dealings with Native Americans over a century ago. I believe its historic significance will be of genuine interest to history buffs around the world, benefitting all of Oklahoma."

On the subject of the medal presentation, Lucas said, "in the earliest days of the Republic, the U.S. Mint's Presidential Medals were presented as symbols of peace and friendship to Native American Chiefs and other important leaders at treaty signings and other events," Lucas said. "It is in the spirit of that tradition of a government to government acknowledgment of cooperation, that I presented these Peace Medals to the traditional leaders of the Cheyenne-Arapaho tribe of Oklahoma."

During the expedition of Lewis and Clark in 1804-1806 to the Pacific coast, they carried a supply of Indian Peace Medals bearing the portrait of President Thomas Jefferson for presentation to important chiefs. The tradition of presenting Indian Peace Medals continued until the latter part of the 19th century. After the term of President Andrew Johnson, these medals became the official medals of the Presidential Series, with individual reverse designs featuring inaugural dates, terms in office, presidential symbols and seals, and excerpts from speeches. It was during this time that the medal donning the face of President George Washington was created.

The 3 inch in diameter, bronze medals' front side includes the face of President George Washington while the reverse design will be a crossed peace pipe and tomahawk and two hands clasped in a handshake. Additionally, the symbols on the reverse will be accompanied by the words 'Peace And Friendship.'

These particular Peace Medals will have some added craftsmanship. Along the edge of the medal an inscription reading 'Washita BNHS November 1, 1997' will commemorate the event.

"While the tradition of the U.S. Government presenting peace medals to tribal leaders seems to be a custom of the past, my feeling was that this was an occasion that deserved the acknowledgment of that custom of old," Lucas said. "We are reviving the solemn, but defining stories of history through the designation of this national battlefield site while returning to the legacy of the presentation of the peace medal.

"The symbolism of the dual presentation and ground breaking, I do believe, will be tremendous in relation to the collaborative work that will begin among the Cheyenne-Arapaho tribe, the NPS, and the community in an effort to preserve history," Lucas concluded.