ratt is part of a rich, colorful heritage and creative bloodline that merged and sprang Pforth from the Arkansas River area in southeastern Colorado Territory. Born of the North American aboriginal people groups and their cultures and sufferings, and the American Revolution’s spark of independence and ingenuity by way of St. Louis, the story gels around today’s La Junta, Colorado. That’s where an adobe citadel sprang out of Colorado Territory in the 1830s or 1840s. The pièce de résistance of trading, located on the mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail, Bent’s Fort symbolizes the era’s largest and most successful frontier trading venture in the Old West. At times, even the U.S. military used it for various purposes, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho nations met there to trade in peace. As this epic story panned out across the American frontier, innumerable people from Designed by Harvey Pratt, “Warrior's Circle of Honor” was unveiled various native groups including the Sioux, Arapaho, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Veteran's Day, Novem- and Cheyenne, including Cheyenne Chief White ber 2020. Attending the unveiling are left to right, Hans Butzer, Gina Thunder and his daughter Owl Woman, took center Pratt, Conor McMichael, Evan Sack, and Harvey Pratt. The design team for the memorial included Gina and Harvey Pratt, Hans Butzer, stage. As well, university-educated Edmund “Ed” and Torrey Butzer. Photo by Torrey Butzer. Guerrier (1840-1921), the famous Cheyenne Indian scout of French descent, interpreter and rancher, entered the picture. Much of Old West history swirls around Guerrier. Located in today’s Canadian and Blaine counties, a town was initially named after Guerrier. Hard to pronounce, the name evolved to became Geary. Guerrier’s wife Julia Bent (1844- 1932) was a key player and there’s a cousin, Cowboy Artist Charlie Russell (1864-1926), who was part of the mix. Last but not least was William Bent’s friend Kit Carson (1809-1868), the frontiersman, guide, trapper, and Indian agent. Silas Bent was Harvey’s great-great-great- grandfather. He fought in the American Revolution. In fact, he was in on the ground floor. He dressed up like an Indian and threw the tea into Boston Harbor. Two of his eleven children were Charles Bent (1799-1847) and William Bent (1809-1869), who headed west from St. Louis. To this day, they’re known as the brothers who helped open the West and the Santa Fe Trail. 16