Navajo Code Talkers honored at Utah Veterans Memorial

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC4) — The Utah Veterans Memorial honored the Navajo Code Talkers from World War Two by unveiling a memorial statue today.

During World War Two, Navajo Code Talkers were essential to secure communications between Allied forces. According to the United States Navy, the Navajo language is unwritten, and its complex syntax and dialects make it difficult to decipher for those who did not grow up speaking it.

Approximately 400 Navajo recruits developed and transmitted secure codes during the war. The U.S. Navy says, “Navajos could encode, transmit, and decode a three-line English message in 20 seconds. Machines of the time required 30 minutes to perform the same job.”

Today, the Utah Veterans Memorial unveiled a statue that honors the Navajo Code Talkers and their contributions in World War Two.

A new statue honoring the Navajo Code Talkers was unveiled today at the Utah Veteran’s Memorial. (Courtesy: Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski via Facebook.)

The statue unveiling ceremony featured a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner in the Navajo language. Additionally, several spokespeople spoke about the emotional and long-lasting impact of the Navajo Code Talkers and the statue’s legacy.

Casey Saxton, District Director for Congressman Burgess Owens’ (R-Utah) office, attended and said, “Utah’s history is inexplicably tied to that of the Navajo. The Navajo existed long before Utah was a thought in anyone’s mind. We are grateful for all of the value you add to our state.”

Saxton also acknowledged that the Navajo Code Talkers were largely forgotten in history and were unrecognized until recently. He said, “I am so grateful that, in the last two decades, that history has been remembered.”

Prestine James, whose late husband worked on expanding the memorial. She said, “Having a statue of the Code Talkers be a reminder of their sacrifice, to be a reminder of their contributions, to be a reminder that our language is sacred and the power it represents…This has been fulfilled today”

More information on the Utah Veteran’s Memorial is available here.