The Navajo Language
The terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001 changed the lives of all Americans regardless of age, race, gender, and ethnicity. The graphic images of the twin towers collapsing and a commercial airliner crashing into the Pentagon portrayed an image of what the American Indian’s must have seen as the United States (U.S.) Government made advances on their ancestral lands, threatening their very livelihood. As a direct result of conflicts, the U.S. Government placed American Indians on reservations where they suffered poverty, racism, and termination of their culture, traditions, and language. Despite their tragic history, American Indian Soldiers have made countless contributions in defense of this …show more content…
The 15-year national observance of 9/11 was observed on Sunday September 11, 2016. People across the nation observed in their own way, paying respect to all who perished that day. The date that the Navajo Code Talker distinctly remembers is December 7, 1941. The day the Japanese Empire completed a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The USMC recruited the Navajo’s who spoke a language, unwritten and extremely difficult to learn, in 1942. The Navajo Code Talkers, trained in Camp Elliot, California, developed an un deciphered code and served on the front lines of every operation from the Guadalcanal to the taking of Japan. The Navajo Marines, sworn to secrecy would not talk about their service until 1968, 23 years after the end of the war. It was until 2001; President George W. Bush presented the Congressional Gold and Silver medals to the Navajo Code Talkers. Unfortunately, the recognition came a little too late as many of the Navajo Code Talkers had already passed. Additionally, those who died on the beaches of Okinawa, Iwo Jima, Saipan, Guam, Bougainville, and more that was never documented and essentially erased from the history pages. The Navajo language, once forbidden, saved the lives of many and preserved America, Home of the Brave. My initial response to give a presentation about my grandfather, the Navajo Code Talkers, was intimidation. In preparation, I did a thorough research by conducting phone interviews with my family members and documented research. My final presentation included a combination of speech and power point slides containing images to create a powerful connection with my audience. The response from all in attendance was inspiration, connecting through tribal affiliation, and
The terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001 changed the lives of all Americans regardless of age, race, gender, and ethnicity. The graphic images of the twin towers collapsing and a commercial airliner crashing into the Pentagon portrayed an image of what the American Indian’s must have seen as the United States (U.S.) Government made advances on their ancestral lands, threatening their very livelihood. As a direct result of conflicts, the U.S. Government placed American Indians on reservations where they suffered poverty, racism, and termination of their culture, traditions, and language. Despite their tragic history, American Indian Soldiers have made countless contributions in defense of this …show more content…
The 15-year national observance of 9/11 was observed on Sunday September 11, 2016. People across the nation observed in their own way, paying respect to all who perished that day. The date that the Navajo Code Talker distinctly remembers is December 7, 1941. The day the Japanese Empire completed a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The USMC recruited the Navajo’s who spoke a language, unwritten and extremely difficult to learn, in 1942. The Navajo Code Talkers, trained in Camp Elliot, California, developed an un deciphered code and served on the front lines of every operation from the Guadalcanal to the taking of Japan. The Navajo Marines, sworn to secrecy would not talk about their service until 1968, 23 years after the end of the war. It was until 2001; President George W. Bush presented the Congressional Gold and Silver medals to the Navajo Code Talkers. Unfortunately, the recognition came a little too late as many of the Navajo Code Talkers had already passed. Additionally, those who died on the beaches of Okinawa, Iwo Jima, Saipan, Guam, Bougainville, and more that was never documented and essentially erased from the history pages. The Navajo language, once forbidden, saved the lives of many and preserved America, Home of the Brave. My initial response to give a presentation about my grandfather, the Navajo Code Talkers, was intimidation. In preparation, I did a thorough research by conducting phone interviews with my family members and documented research. My final presentation included a combination of speech and power point slides containing images to create a powerful connection with my audience. The response from all in attendance was inspiration, connecting through tribal affiliation, and