KFDA - NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo, TX: newschannel10.comNavajo Code Talkers break silence for Veterans Day

Navajo Code Talkers break silence for Veterans Day

Associated Press - November 10, 2009 6:35 PM ET

NEW YORK (AP) - Thirteen of the Navajo Code Talkers have arrived in New York City to take part for the first time in the nation's largest Veterans Day Parade.

They devised an unbreakable code from their ancient language that stymied the Japanese during World War II.

Only about 50 of the 400 Code Talkers are believed to be still alive, most living in the Navajo Nation reservation that spans Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Many are frail or ill, with little time left to tell the world about their wartime contribution -- an unbreakable code from their ancient language that stymied the Japanese during World War II.

Recognition from the U.S. government and awareness of the Code Talkers - even within the Navajo community - has been slow to come. It wasn't until 2000 that the Congressional Gold Medal was bestowed on the survivors of the original 29 Code Talkers and silver medals on the rest.

At least 5 of the Code Talkers died just this year, creating an urgency for the Navajo Code Talkers Foundation to create a museum in their honor in New Mexico, near the Navajo capital of Window Rock, Ariz. It is slated to open sometime in 2012.

On the Net:

United War Veterans Council of NYC: http://www.unitedwarveterans.org

Navajo Code Talkers official site: http://www.navajocodetalkers.org

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