Long Island singer Michelle Thomas was invited to sing the National Anthem in the Navajo language at the General Meeting of the Suffolk County Legislature on December 6th.
December 7 is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and Legislator Bridget Fleming invited Thomas to sing at the meeting to honor the soldiers of World War II.
“These heroes include Navajo Code Talkers who played a critical role in helping the Allies toward victory, by intercepting and relaying messages to key points of contact in order to mobilize resources and help complete missions,” Fleming said.
Thomas is a member of the Navajo tribe who now lives in the Shinnecock Territory in the Second Legislative District.
Code Talkers of the Navajo were uniquely integral to aiding the Marines at the Battle of Iwo Jima. They used sophisticated code translations in Navajo to communicate key strategic messages to their fellow Marines, allowing the U.S. to achieve victory against enemy submarines and suicide bombers. Code Talkers were sworn to secrecy until just four years ago. Thomas knows personally the last two remaining Navajo Code Talkers, and through her work, she helps continue their story of honor, sacrifice, and service to our country.
Suffolk County is home to many ancestral lands belonging to indigenous communities, including the Shinnecock, Puspatuck and Montaukett Tribes, among others.
“I am so pleased that Michelle is able to grace us with her talents today,” added Fleming. “She inspires people across the country to recognize our collective ideals through song.”
