96 year old Edmond Harjo on Wednesday was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal along with many other American Indian “Code Talkers”.
The code talker program was something that wasn’t even officially acknowledged, must less publically recognized by the government. Code talkers were utilized during WWI and WWII to ‘outwit’ the enemy and protect battle field communications.
Warren Kooyaquaptewa did not live long enough to be honored by his country, but his daughter said Wednesday that the Hopi man would have been proud to see that day come. “He would have been very, very honored to have received this award,” Marlinda Kooyaquaptewa said of her father after the ceremony at the Capitol. “I feel really honored and just so happy that I can even feel my dad’s spirit with me here today,” she said.
He was one of hundreds of American Indian ‘Code Talkers’ from 25 different tribes honored with Congressional Gold Medals Wednesday for their service in both World Wars which was long a military secret. Almost all awards were being awarded posthumously.
The Congressional Gold Medal is the “highest expression of national appreciation,” according to a House website. Code talkers were used as cryptologists by the U.S. military, sending messages in codes based on native languages that were considered unbreakable. They were able to accurately encrypt and decrypt messages in seconds that would have taken machines an hour or more in those times.
At the Capitol, representatives from 25 tribes received medals imprinted with designs unique to the individual tribes. Eight other tribes whose medal designs had not yet been finalized, will receive their medals at a later date.
House speaker, John Boehner, told about 600 people in the Capitol’s statue lined Emancipation Hall that the first Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to General George Washington. “By adding these men to such lofty ranks, we also mean to add their story – one worth honoring today – one worth retelling every day.”
Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid, recalled a litany of abuses against Native Americans, including teachers who punished children for speaking their native language at English only schools who told Indians, “their language had no value.” But those languages proved valuable when American commanders needed an unbreakable code during World War II, he said. “The United States government ingeniously turned to the people and languages they tried to eradicate,” Reid said. “Their gift saved countless lives and helped win the war – their willingness to share it made them American heroes.”
Reid’s statements resonated with Hopi Chairman Leroy Shingoitewa who said his people “stepped forward,” even though Native Americans have not always had full rights as U.S. citizens. The medals acknowledge that Indians were “crucial” to the U.S. military successes. Vaniesha Honani, a Hopi and former Navy petty officer, said the recognition not only reaffirms the contribution for tribe members, but it is also “symbolic of how much of a stake we have in the country” to those outside the tribe as well. Her great-grandfather, Perry Honani Sr., was one of the code talkers honored Wednesday. She said her decision to serve in the Navy came “straight from that legacy” and from her desire to walk in his footsteps and those of her grandfather, Perry Honani Jr., another Navy veteran. Rep Ann Kirkpatrick of Flagstaff AZ, said she was “beaming with pride” for the code talkers, many of whom also abided by a “code of silence” after the war and never spoke of their role in the war effort. “In spite of the way our country has treated them, (Native Americans), they have tremendous patriotism,” said Kirkpatrick who grew up on the White Mountain Apache reservation.
The congressional recognition brought an end to many years of work, but it also brought closure for many families. I pray we continue to recognize the remaining individuals and tribes that have not yet received their recognition.
TRUE AMERICAN HEROES – – – THANK YOU ALL !!!