Pinto: ‘I will continue to support Navajo leaders, veterans’

Posted by Navajo Times | Feb 18, 2016 | Guest Essay |

John Pinto

By New Mexico State Senator John Pinto
Special to the Times

Today is an historic occasion as we witness the signing of legislation of the Navajo Veterans Administration and the Veterans Advisory Council. It is the birth of a spirit that will guide and nurture your well-being and that of your families through the days of your lives. This is the highest expression of gratitude, honor and love for the sacrifices you have made as men and women representing the Great Navajo Nation in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

Your contributions of service walking in the footsteps of our nation’s most revered veterans, our beloved Navajo Code Talkers, are equally legendary. The late Senator Inouye, a decorated veteran himself and the longtime chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, often shared with the people of the this great nation that there is no other group of Americans who have a higher percentage of serving in the military than do American Indians. Among all American Indians, you rank among the highest across all of Indian Country.

In your service, you sacrificed much, leaving your families behind, delaying your education, and sacrificing important aspects of tradition and culture.

The dream of many who have gone before you is that one day the Navajo Nation would have the foresight, the vision and the wisdom to develop and establish the foundation and framework to serve you, veterans of the Navajo Nation, upon your return to your beloved homelands. This action today is a commitment to heal the mind, body and spirit as you return to take your rightful place in our homelands.

We must all remember that this is a new beginning. We must all work in a spirit of cooperation to fulfill the purpose and intent of this vision. As a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and one of the few surviving code talkers, I am blessed to have the opportunity to serve you in the New Mexico State Senate.

I will continue to do all within my power to support and compliment the efforts of the Navajo Nation and our leaders to honorably serve the veterans of the nation in similar fashion as all of you sacrificed in your service on our behalf so that we can enjoy all the freedoms of our great nation. We must all remember that freedom is not free. The cost of freedom is the ultimate sacrifice of those who give their lives for us.

(Editor’s note: This letter is dated for Feb. 7 in support of his Senate Joint Memorial 16 “Navajo Code Talker Museum and Veteran’s Center”.)