Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, during the Second World War, the United States Government called upon 29 Navajo men from the Navajo Nation to support the military effort by serving as Marine Corps radio operators. The actual number of enlistees later increased to over 350. The Japanese had deciphered the military code developed by the United States for transmitting messages and the Navajo Marine Corps radio operators, who became known as the Navajo Code Talkers, developed a new code using their language to communicate military messages in the Pacific. Throughout its extensive use, the code developed by these Native Americans proved unbreakable. The Navajos were people who had been discouraged from using their own language. Ultimately, the code they developed using the same language would be credited with saving the lives of many American soldiers and several successful United States military engagements during World War II. It is an extreme honor to bring this legislation to the floor today authorizing a ceremony to be held in the Capitol Rotunda presenting Congressional Gold Medals to the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers. Their contribution to this Nation proved immeasurable.”