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thedrifter
10-25-03, 08:47 AM
Date: Thursday, October 16, 2003

http://www.navajonationcouncil.org/pr/veteransday.htm

NAVAJO CODETALKERS TO

RECEIVE SILVER MEDALS

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - The Navajo Codetalkers are scheduled to receive
long-awaited Congressional silver medals at the Navajo Nation Veterans' Day
Celebration on November 11, 2003.

New Mexico Senator Jeff Bingaman introduced the "Honoring the Navajo Code
talkers Act," which was signed into law on Dec. 22, 2003.

The act recognizes the Codetalkers and presents the original Codetalkers
with gold medals, and those who trained and were eligible to be Codetalkers
with silver medals.

Wayne Saltwater, from the Office of Veterans, said that all the gold medals
have been awarded, but former Navajo Marines are still coming forward to be
recognized as Codetalkers.

Those who are confirmed by the Commander of the United States of Marines are
eligible to receive silver medals.

The Congressional Gold and Silver Medals are designed specifically for the
recipient. Saltwater said the gold medals are worth $30,000 and the silver
medals are worth about $15,000.

The celebration is being coordinated by Fort Defiance Department of Veterans
Affairs, the Office of the Speaker, and the Office of Miss Navajo.

It will actually start on Monday night with the Marine Corps Birthday Ball
at the Window Rock Sports Center and a candlelight vigil ceremony at the
Veterans Park in Window Rock.

Tickets for the ball are being sold by Veterans Affairs. It will begin at 5
p.m. The march will start at 6 p.m. at Wells Fargo Bank and proceed to the
Veterans Park. The band Midnight Cry will perform at the Veterans Park.

Veterans Day will begin with a Dawn Ceremony at 6:30 a.m. at the Veterans
Park.

From there, at about 8 a.m., a parade will make its way to the Window Rock
Sports Center.

At the Sports Center, Miss Navajo Marla Billey will serve a continental
breakfast. Any royalty throughout the Navajo Nation is invited to contact
Miss Navajo to help serve families and relatives of military personnel.

The Navajo Nation President, Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council and the
Navajo Nation Chief Justice are scheduled to address the audiences starting
at 10 a.m.

Delivering the keynote address will be Brigadier General Jan D. Eakle who
served as a commander at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, N.M., from
Sept. 2000 to Jan. 2002. She is currently Vice Commander of Ogden Air
Logistics Center in Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

A fly-over by the Kirtland Air Force Base will occur at 11 a.m.

A barbeque luncheon will be provided at the fairgrounds barbeque pit around
noon. Various musical bands and performers will entertain at the food
pavilion from noon to 8 p.m

After the luncheon, a gourd honor dance in the Nakai Hall and a song and
dance in the Song and Dance Arena will take place..

Miss Navajo and the Blue Star Mothers will prepare the care packages for
send off to the troops in the afternoon.

The Office of the Speaker, Miss Navajo, and the Blue Star Mothers continue
to accept donations for the care packages.


Sempers,

Roger
:marine: