Some years ago I was visiting my brother in Albuquerque. We went down to visit Old Town (the original square in the city) and there in a booth sat three of the original Code Talkers present for autographs of their book. I was incredibly humbled to meet them, shake their hands and get each of their autographs. There was also a nearby shop that served as a small museum of their exploits, where I was able to secure an autographed native flute. But the most amazing and humbling aspect of the visit. I waited better than 20 minutes for the autographs while they were surrounded by Native American youth who were there paying their respects. I will never forget those youth and the honor are respect they gave those warriors.
Lo, There do I see my Father Lo, There do I see my Mother and My Brothers and my Sisters Lo, There do I see the line of my people back to the beginning Lo, They do call to me They bid me take my place among them in the halls of Valhalla Where thine enemies have been vanquished Where the brave shall live Forever Nor shall we mourn but rejoice for those that have died the glorious death.
Not to denigrate anybody’s service, but the Navajo grabbed “code talkers” like Cherokee latched onto “trail of tears.” Choctaw “code talkers” existed in World War I, and other tribal languages were used in War II. Navajo talkers first came to my attention around 50 years ago. It’s like a lot of other things that someone “discovers,” and suddenly no one ever heard of it before and why aren’t these people getting their due recognition, somebody needs to do something.
Forgot to say that much of the Navajo code talker PR came about because they were Marines, and Marines ... Better PR department than any Hollywood person.
Some years ago I was visiting my brother in Albuquerque. We went down to visit Old Town (the original square in the city) and there in a booth sat three of the original Code Talkers present for autographs of their book. I was incredibly humbled to meet them, shake their hands and get each of their autographs. There was also a nearby shop that served as a small museum of their exploits, where I was able to secure an autographed native flute. But the most amazing and humbling aspect of the visit. I waited better than 20 minutes for the autographs while they were surrounded by Native American youth who were there paying their respects. I will never forget those youth and the honor are respect they gave those warriors.
ReplyDeleteLo, There do I see my Father
ReplyDeleteLo, There do I see my Mother and
My Brothers and my Sisters
Lo, There do I see the line of my people back to the beginning
Lo, They do call to me
They bid me take my place among them in the halls of Valhalla
Where thine enemies have been vanquished
Where the brave shall live Forever
Nor shall we mourn but rejoice for those that have died the glorious death.
Not to denigrate anybody’s service, but the Navajo grabbed “code talkers” like Cherokee latched onto “trail of tears.” Choctaw “code talkers” existed in World War I, and other tribal languages were used in War II. Navajo talkers first came to my attention around 50 years ago. It’s like a lot of other things that someone “discovers,” and suddenly no one ever heard of it before and why aren’t these people getting their due recognition, somebody needs to do something.
ReplyDeleteForgot to say that much of the Navajo code talker PR came about because they were Marines, and Marines ... Better PR department than any Hollywood person.
ReplyDelete