REFERENCE TITLE: Jimmie Preston; memorial bridge

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

2025

HCM 2006

Introduced by

Representatives Peshlakai: Liguori, Márquez, Sandoval, Stahl Hamilton, Volk

A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL

urging the Arizona state board on geographic and historic names and the United states board on geographic names to designate the cameron truss bridge near United states route 89 as the jimmie preston memorial bridge.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

To the Chairpersons of the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names and the United States Board on Geographic Names and the Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, during World War II, 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. Military commanders discovered that the extreme complexity of the Navajo language might make it a valuable military code, and Navajo, an unwritten language that has no alphabet or symbols, proved to be an indecipherable code since its syntax and tonal qualities make it unintelligible to all except those who have had extensive training and exposure to it; and

Whereas, 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. The Navajo Code Talkers performed an important service to the preservation of democracy, and they are deserving of continuing recognition and honor for their remarkable efforts; and

Whereas, born in Tuba City, Arizona, on March 16, 1922, Jimmie Preston was attending Tuba City Vocational High School when his education was interrupted by World War II. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the age of seventeen and saw combat at Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Okinawa, Iwo Jima and various other locations. As a Navajo Code Talker and paratrooper with the 5^th Marine Division, he distinguished himself as a member of a unique, highly successful communications operation that saved countless lives and hastened the end of World War II in the Pacific campaign. After the war, he remained in the service until his discharge in 1946, when he returned to Cameron, Arizona. He went on to work for the Arizona Highway Department, the Navajo Tribal Police, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Navajo tribal government. Jimmie Preston passed away on February 18, 1966, while serving as the Cameron Chapter President; and

Whereas, in his wartime service as a Navajo Code Talker and later service to his community, Jimmie Preston showed tremendous courage, dedication and patriotism. It is fitting that his exemplary legacy of sacrifice and valor be recognized by naming the Cameron truss bridge in his honor.

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

1. That the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names and the United States Board on Geographic Names take the appropriate steps to name the truss bridge in Cameron, Arizona, near the United States Route 89 Cameron Roadway as the Jimmie Preston Memorial Bridge.

2. That the Arizona Department of Transportation approve, place and maintain appropriate signage to identify the Jimmie Preston Memorial Bridge.

3. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the Chairpersons of the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names and the United States Board on Geographic Names, the Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation and the President of the Navajo Nation.