Governor Doug Ducey recognized today, August 14, 2020, as Navajo Code Talkers Day to honor the Navajo Code Talkers who answered the call to serve in World War II.
“Today, Arizona is proud to honor the more than 400 Navajo Code Talkers and their historic contributions to Allied victory in WWII,” said Governor Ducey. “The Navajo Code talkers used their native language to develop an unbreakable code, assisting on every major operation involving the U.S. Marines in the Pacific theatre. They are true American heroes, and we are eternally grateful for their service.”
The United States government recruited and enlisted more than four hundred Navajo men to serve in standards communications units. The Navajo Code Talkers used their unbreakable code to assist in every major operation involving the United States Marines in the Pacific Ocean theatre, including during the battle at Iwo Jima where they successfully transmitted more than 800 messages without error. Today, there are four surviving Code Talkers: Peter MacDonald, Samuel Sandoval, Thomas Begay and John Kinsel Senior.
Navajo Code Talkers Day was established through a presidential proclamation by President Ronald Reagan on August 14, 1982. In 2014, Arizona passed legislation declaring every August 14 Navajo Code Talkers Day in Arizona.
View the proclamation HERE.
WHEREAS, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese Empire attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States Congress declared war the following day; and
WHEREAS, the United States government called upon the Navajo Nation to support the military effort by recruiting and enlisting more than four hundred Navajo men to serve in standards communications units; and
WHEREAS, these patriots became known as “Navajo Code Talkers” who were used in every major operation involving the United States Marines in the Pacific Ocean theatre; and
WHEREAS, Navajo Code Talkers gave the United States Marines a critical advantage throughout the war, notably the victory at Iwo Jima where they successfully transmitted more than 800 messages without error; and
WHEREAS, the unbroken Navajo Code assisted in saving countless lives and hastened the end of World War II; and
WHEREAS, the State of Arizona stands to recognize all Navajo Code Talkers as honorable men who have performed an important service to the preservation of freedom and democracy.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Douglas A. Ducey, Governor of the State of Arizona, do hereby proclaim August 14, 2020, as
NAVAJO CODE TALKERS DAY
and urge residents to take time this day to reflect and appreciate the sacrifice these men made for the State of Arizona and the United States of America.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Arizona
GOVERNOR Doug Ducey
DONE at the Capitol in Phoenix on this thirteenth day of August in the year Two Thousand and Twenty and of the Independence of the United States of America the Two Hundred and Forty-Fifth.
ATTEST:
SECRETARY OF STATE