2014 -- H 8286

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LC005873

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE HONORABLE LINCOLN CHAFEE TO LOWER ALL

STATE FLAGS AS A VISIBLE PUBLIC REMINDER TO ALL RHODE ISLANDERS OF

THE SACRIFICES AND HEROIC ACTIONS OF CHESTER NEZ AND THE ORIGINAL

TWENTY-NINE NAVAJO CODE TALKERS

     Introduced By: Representatives Abney, McLaughlin, DeSimone, Shekarchi, and

     Date Introduced: June 05, 2014

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, As many young men did during World War II, Chester Nez lied about his

age in order to enlist in the Marines. He was only in the 10th grade. Filled with pride for his

heritage and an abiding love for his country, Chester Nez became one of the twenty-nine Navajo

men who became the original code talkers; and

     WHEREAS, During World War II, men from the Navajo Nation were recruited to

develop a "code" that could be used to transmit sensitive and secretive military messages that the

Japanese would not be able to understand; and

     WHEREAS, The men spent thirteen weeks creating a glossary of words that utilized the

Navajo language as the basis for the military's confidential transmissions. Their code was never

broken; and  

     WHEREAS, In addition to successfully creating an unbreakable code, the Navajo Code

Talkers took part in every assault the United States Marines conducted in the Pacific from 1942 to

1945, and served in all six Marine divisions; and

     WHEREAS, Sadly, at the age of ninety-three, Chester Nez passed away in June of

2014.  He was the last surviving member of the twenty-nine original and heroic Navajo Code

Talkers; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby extends our deepest sympathy on the passing of Chester Nez. We

furthermore honor and applaud the contributions of all the Navajo Code Talkers and respectfully

request the Honorable Lincoln Chafee to lower all state flags as a visible public reminder to all

Rhode Islanders of the sacrifices and heroic actions of these brave men; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable Lincoln Chafee.

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LC005873

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