Young Marine SgtMaj Lauren Loria, of Fairfax, national Young Marine of the year, and YM MGySgt Tyson Henry perform a wreath laying ceremony to honor Navajo Code Talkers in Window Rock, Arizona. Photo contributed
Young Marine SgtMaj Lauren Loria, national Young Marine of the year, 17, of Fairfax, performed a wreath laying ceremony in Window Rock, Ariz. to honor WWII heroes – The Navajo Code Talkers.
More than 100 Young Marines from across the country traveled to Window Rock for the annual National Navajo Code Talkers Day on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. The event recognizes the Navajo men who joined the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II as communication specialists and developed an unbreakable code using their native language.
Members of the Young Marines, a national youth organization, began attending Navajo Code Talkers Day in 2006. To date, more than 1,500 Young Marines have experienced the event. The Young Marines are asked to share their experience with their history classes, which means that thousands of kids who might not have otherwise known about the Code Talkers will be touched by their participation.
"The Young Marines have become important participants in this special day,” said Brenda McNulty, Young Marines’ organizer of the event. “The Navajo veterans are more than just WWII heroes. They are dear friends to the Young Marines. Our partnership with the Code Talkers and their descendants has strengthened year after year.”
While onsite for three days, the Young Marines did community service by cleaning and weeding the Navajo Nation Zoo, and cleaning graffiti off the red rocks on Window Rock peak. On Navajo Code Talkers Day, the Young Marines escort the Navajo veterans, march in the parade, and perform a wreath laying ceremony.