The theme of the 2009 Navajo Shiprock Fair is "A salute to Diné Heritage."
Yet, an unfortunate lack of communications may result in one of the Navajo Nation's most iconic images failing to be represented in Shiprock this year.
There are no plans for Saturday morning's annual fair parade to include the Navajo Code Talkers.
It's hard to imagine the World War II heroes being left out of any Navajo parade, let alone any meaningful one such as Shiprock's big event.
Yet, because the cost of an entry into the parade is $250, and because the entry form says there are no waivers, the Navajo Code Talkers Association felt it didn't have the money to cover the costs.
Not to mention, something seems wrong about the idea of having heroes such as these men, what few survive, having to pay to be honored in a parade.
So, as of this writing Thursday afternoon, there are no plans for the Code Talkers to be included.
That, my friends, is a crying shame.
***
Even if someone or some organization offered to cover the $250 parade entry fee, of which I hope someone reading this would, it may be too late.
Attempts to reach fair board president Frank Yabeny and parade organizer Virginia Nelson were unsuccessful Thursday, as neither returned my calls and in all fairness to them, I'm sure they're already busy with 100,000 visitors expected at this weekend's activities.
I did get lucky enough to catch fair board treasurer Chevonne Jennings in the fair's office
"The parade deadline is already done with," she said, and there are no plans for any more board meetings regarding the fair since the event already is under way.
So is there any way we can still get the Code Talkers in the parade if we cover the costs, I asked her?
First, her answer was no.
After asking her in disbelief for about the third time, she referred me to the parade's organizer, who never returned my calls.
***
Etta Arviso, a volunteer from near Bloomfield who has uncles that were Code Talkers and who has volunteered for the Code Talkers organization since 1995, said it's not too late on her end to gather at least two or three of the veterans from the local area if parade organizers want them.
"If somebody would cover the charge on their behalf, I could still pick up a couple of them and get them there," she said.
Arviso admitted that she never spoke personally with anyone on the fair board to seek a waiver to the parade entry fee, "because on the entry form it says no waivers."
Jennings said no one on the fair board was asked.
"Nobody has been turned down," she told me. "Yours is the first call."
Arviso hopes that in the future, there is a waiver and a standing invitation for the Code Talkers to always be involved.
"We like to see the Navajo Code Talkers in the parades every year, throughout the Navajo Nation," she said. "They should be in the parade every year.
"They're up in age now and it is very important to keep the history like that. If you don't see the Navajo Code Talkers in the parade, there's no parade."
She feels strongly about their role in Navajo heritage and as contributors to America's history.
"We wouldn't be able to enjoy what we enjoy today if not for men like them," she said. "We have to respect our elders. If we say we respect our Navajo heritage, we have to respect our Navajo Code Talkers.
"To me, we should salute them every day we get up and we see that flag.
"We need to keep them in the parades. It's very important."
***
There were many other heroes, races and cultures represented in America's fight for freedom during World War II who deserve the kind of attention and respect Arviso is so passionate about giving the Code Talkers.
However, the Shiprock Navajo Fair, this year in its 98th year, is specifically about the Navajo Nation's pride and heritage.
Meaning, it is precisely this type of event that should pay tribute to these types of heroes.
The board and parade organizers may still see their way to allow and perhaps even pursue getting the Code Talkers into Saturday's parade.
True, they didn't turn the Code Talkers away, and true, the Code Talkers' representatives may have done a poor job of getting involved when they should.
But does any of that matter now?
What matters is making wrongs right and solving the problem.
What matters is that the Shiprock officials and perhaps the Navajo Nation officials down in Window Rock should make it a point to ensure future generations never forget the sacrifice and contribution these brave men provided. There no doubt were many brave Navajo warriors before them, and since as the Marine Corps continues a strong relationship with the Navajo Nation.
These men, however, are among the Navajo's greatest images.
Any Navajo event celebrating Navajo heritage without them is incomplete.
For more information on this weekend's events, see coverage within The Daily Times, at daily-times.com, or at shiprocknavajofair.org.
Troy Turner is the editor of The Daily Times. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 450, Farmington, N.M. 87499; or at tturner@daily-times.com.
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