Navajo Code Talkers to Witness Blast at Crazy Horse
Available to meet public following July 4th blast
CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL – On Saturday July 4, Crazy Horse Memorial will have the distinct privilege of having three Navajo Code Talkers as their honored guests.
The code talkers, Arthur J. Hubbard, Sr., Joseph Morris, Sr., and George B. Willie, Sr. will be able to witness a blast on the world’s largest mountain carving in progress. The Independence Day blast will take place at 11:00 am and will remove over 2,000 tons of rock.
Hubbard, Morris and Willie now hail from Arizona and California. They were part of a group of specifically trained Navajo boys selected to participate in the war efforts in the Pacific from 1942-1945. Without the help of these men, and over 400 other U.S. Marine Corps Navajo Code Talkers who used their native language to send coded messages, it has been said that the United States would not have defeated the Japanese.
Mrs. Ruth Ziolkowski, the CEO/President of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation and wife of the late sculptor, said that “Korczak was a veteran of World War II, and had the utmost respect for anyone who fought for our country. He would be honored that we’re able to have the Navajo Code Talkers as our guest at Crazy Horse, especially on a day as fitting as July 4th” said Mrs. Ziolkowski.
Following the blast, the code talkers will be available to greet the public and sign posters in the Crazy Horse visitor center. The proceeds from poster sales will be used to help offset their travel expenses.
The code talkers will be honored guests at Mt. Rushmore for the annual Independence Day Celebration on July 3.
Crazy Horse Memorial is a nonprofit educational and cultural project honoring all American Indians. Located on Highway 16/385 between Hill City and Custer, it is just 17 miles SW of Mt. Rushmore. For more information on the Memorial and upcoming events, please call 605.673.4681.