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thedrifter
07-30-05, 05:44 AM
Courtesy of Mark aka The Fontman

Code Talker statue faces Route 66
Moving 900 pound statue not easy

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff Writer

GALLUP — It was an example of young U.S. Marines honoring a legendary group of older Marines.

Members of the Marine Wing Support Squadron 471, deployed out of Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mount Clemens, Mich., were at the Gallup Cultural Center on Thursday morning to help move a 10-foot, 900 pound sculpture honoring the Navajo Code Talkers. Following that move, they participated in a brief ceremony honoring the legendary Navajo Marines.

The Marines of MWSS 471 are temporarily in Gallup building modular homes for needy Native American families in a program sponsored by the Southwest Indian Foundation.

In about 30 minutes on Thursday, the Marines helped Hinkley Signs of Gallup move the Navajo Code Talker Sculpture from the cultural center's second floor to a new pedestal in front of the building.

The sculpture, by Navajo artist Oreland Joe of Kirtland, N.M., was commissioned several years ago by SWIF. It has been temporarily housed in SWIF's Gallery of the Masters inside the cultural center.

During the ceremony held to mark the statue's new location, SWIF official Kent Hodges addressed the nearly three dozen service men and women, a small crowd of SWIF employees, and interested community members. He explained the sculpture was initially commissioned for a ceremony scheduled in September 2001 whereby President Bush was to present gold and silver medals to the Navajo Code Talkers and their families.

Then the terrorist attacks of 9-11 happened."Since then so many Marines have been at the very front of the war against terrorism,"he said."The Marines of yesterday, the Marines of today have always played such a vital role in protecting our freedoms."

Hodges also introduced Lt. Col. Crudo of the MWSS 471, Navajo Code Talkers Bill Toledo and Samuel Smith, and Navajo Code Talkers Secretary Jean Whitehorse, all of whom shared brief remarks. Toledo and Smith sang the U.S. Marine Corp Hymn in both English and Navajo to the hushed gathering.

Gallup Shows Honor
Mayor Bob Rosebrough was also on hand for the ceremony."It's great to have you here respecting our local heros,"he told the visiting Marines. Calling the Code Talkers"exceptional men,"Rosebrough said it was fitting that from a"circle of life"perspective, the community of Gallup would now be honoring the Navajo men who once departed the city as young servicemen about to be trained as Code Talkers.

However, one visitor had a differing viewpoint. James Devore of Crownpoint, N.M. approached The Independent after the ceremony with criticism of the Navajo Nation's government officials. Devore, who said he just happened upon the ceremony as he was passing by the cultural center, said Navajo Nation council delegates spend their time and tribal money on "things that aren't important."Instead, he said, they should be honoring important individuals like the Navajo Code Talkers instead of letting that responsibility fall to reservation border towns like Gallup.

"It's sad to see statues of our own men are put in Gallup,"he said. Referring to the Navajo Code Talker Sculpture, he added,"It's emotional to see it's out of our boundary."

Rhonda Ray, SWIF's public relations and special projects coordinator, overheard Devore's complaint and disagreed with his viewpoint. Gallup lies within the sacred boundaries of Navajoland, she told Devore and the newspaper, and many Navajo people, including many Code Talkers and their families, have made Gallup their home.

Planned Memorial Garden
The latest placement of Joe's Navajo Code Talker Sculpture is just a temporary installation of one or two years, said Hodges. The move was needed, he explained, due to building repairs and renovations scheduled for the Gallup Cultural Center. After next week's Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial-related art exhibition and sale, SWIF will replace the building's roof, upstairs flooring, and water damaged walls.

Joe said he would like to see his sculpture installed in a permanent location so it will not be subjected to any more moves.

"I just think that outdoors is where it belongs,"said Joe, who added that he was pleased with its newest location facing Historic Route 66. Due to the sculpture's better public exposure, Route 66 travelers might now possibly stop to view it, he said, and learn about the history of the Navajo Code Talkers.

Hodges agreed that the sculpture was better suited to an outdoor location. He said SWIF plans to install it in a permanent, exterior location on the east side of the cultural center. According to Hodges, SWIF is planning to create a memorial garden there to honor the Code Talkers once the bus station moves from the building next year.

Ray added that SWIF is also considering turning the current bus station space into a museum that would honor the Navajo Code Talkers.

— Reporter Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola can be contacted at (505) 863-6811 ext. 218 or ehardinburrola@yahoo.com.

Ellie