Navajo Code Talkers Museum in the works: Chevron Mining donates land

August 1, 3:16 PMAlbuquerque Travel ExaminerNeala Schwartzberg

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Chevron Mining Inc. is donating 208 acres of land to the Navajo Code Talkers Association (NCTA) for the future home of a Codetalkers museum and veterans center.

The Navajo Code Talkers are famous for their World War II service creating history's only unbroken battlefield code during the Pacific campaign of World War II.

The Navajo Code Talkers, who served in all six Marine divisions from 1942 to 1945 during WWII, constructed a code from their native language. They have been credited with saving countless lives and hastening the end of the war.

It's only recently that their achievement and contribution have come to light. In 2001, the Navajo Code Talkers were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush.

NCTA President Keith Little, a former Navajo Code Talker, accepted the gift from Fred Nelson, president, Chevron Mining Inc. during a ceremony at Chevron's McKinley Mine, located in New Mexico near the Navajo Nation capitol of Window Rock, AZ.

"We are honored to receive this land and the contribution to the vision of a veterans' center and museum. It is important for us to remember our contribution to our country and we thank Chevron for doing the same," said Keith Little, NCTA president.

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Navajo Nation Vice President Ben Shelly were among the dignitaries who participated in the ceremony, which also served to raise awareness for the NCTA's Museum & Veterans Center Development Project.

The 208 acre parcel of land is associated with Chevron's McKinley Mine and is undisturbed by mining activity. The McKinley Mine, as produced over 177 million tons of coal since 1962 and has close ties with the Navajo community, which represents approximately 95 per cent of the mine's employees.

Now, of course, comes the difficult and time-consuming job of raising the money to build the museum. It is a part of history that needs to be remembered and the Museum will go a long way to making them a permanent part of history.

Read more about Navajo Code Talkers

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