The City of Flagstaff is organizing an event to honor Indigenous Code Talkers on Monday, August 11. The gathering will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Market of Dreams, located at 2136 N. Fourth St., and is open to the public.
The program will include an official proclamation and a message from Eugene “Geno” Talas, U.S. Air Force, Retired, Chief Master Sergeant. Attendees will also hear special honoring songs by Clark Tenakhongva, E-6 Staff Sergeant who served three years in the U.S. Army reserves. A local Hopi dance group will present cultural dances and songs, and light breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Indigenous Code Talkers from more than 30 Nations across the United States served during World War I and World War II. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan established August 14 as National Navajo Code Talkers Day to recognize Native Americans’ contributions during wartime and their sacrifices for others’ safety. This year marks the 83rd anniversary since over 400 young Navajo men were recruited as Code Talkers in World War II; these Marines created a code based on their language that was never broken.
In March 2021, Governor Doug Ducey signed legislation making National Navajo Code Talkers Day a legal state holiday in Arizona each year to acknowledge the bravery of the Code Talkers and their important role in securing Allied victory during WWII (https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2021/03/governor-ducey-signs-legislation-make-navajo-code-talkers-day-state-holiday).
For more information about the celebration, Rose Toehe, City of Flagstaff Indigenous Affairs Administrator, can be contacted at Rose.Toehe@flagstaffaz.gov.
