REFERENCE TITLE: Navajo; Hopi; code talker highways

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018

SCM 1014

Introduced by Senators Peshlakai: Bowie, Dalessandro, Hobbs, Mendez, Yee; Representatives Alston, Andrade, Benally, Descheenie, Saldate

 

A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL

 

urging the Arizona department of transportation to designate THE PORTIONs OF STATE HIGHWAY 264 that fall under Navajo jurisdiction AS THE "NAVAJO CODE TALKER HIGHWAY" and the portions that fall under Hopi jurisdiction as the "Hopi CODE TALKER HIGHWAY" IN HONOR OF THE Native American CODE TALKERS.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

To the Arizona Department of Transportation:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese Empire attacked Pearl Harbor, and the United States Congress declared war the following day; and

Whereas, the military code developed by the United States for transmitting messages had been deciphered by the Japanese and a search was made by United States intelligence to develop new means to counter the enemy; and

Whereas, military commanders explored the possibility that the extreme complexity of the Navajo language might make it a valuable military code. Navajo, an unwritten language that has no alphabet or symbols, proved to be an indecipherable code since its syntax and tonal qualities, including its dialects, make it unintelligible to all except those who have had extensive training and exposure to it.  Initial tests using the Navajo language as a code demonstrated that the Navajos could encode, transmit and decode a three‑line English message in twenty seconds, a feat that took machines thirty minutes to accomplish.  The Navajo Marine Corps radio operators, who became known as the "Navajo Code Talkers," developed an unbreakable code using their native language to communicate military messages and created a dictionary and numerous words for military terms that did not exist in Navajo; and

Whereas, eleven Hopi men developed a code language that they used to assist United States army intelligence in the Marshall Islands, New Caledonia and the Philippines during World War II; and

Whereas, the Native American Code Talkers distinguished themselves in performing a unique, highly successful communications operation that saved countless lives and hastened the end of World War II in the Pacific. The Native American Code Talkers have performed an important service to the preservation of democracy, and they are deserving of continuing recognition for their efforts.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1.  That the Arizona Department of Transportation designate the portions of State Highway 264 that fall under Navajo jurisdiction as the "Navajo Code Talker Highway" and the portions that fall under Hopi jurisdiction as the "Hopi Code Talker Highway" pursuant to section 41‑514, Arizona Revised Statutes.

2.  That the Arizona Department of Transportation approve, place and maintain appropriate signage to identify the Navajo and Hopi Code Talker Highways.

3.  That the Secretary of State transmit copies of this Memorial to the Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation, the President of the Navajo Nation and the Chairman of the Hopi Tribe.