Elliot Morse's Dedication Speech

Summary of Elliot Morse's Dedication Speech In this speech, Elliot Morse delivers a heartfelt address at a dedication ceremony for the American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans Memorial (referred to as "the gift"). He honors his Navajo heritage, his family's military service, and the sacrifices of all Native veterans. Here is a breakdown of the key points from his address: Invocation and Heritage: Morse opens with a prayer and introduces himself in the traditional Navajo language, establishing a tone of reverence and deep cultural pride. Honoring Family: He pays tribute to his late father, Joe Morse Sr., a World War II Navajo Code Talker, and his mother, Charlotte. Both are interred at the cemetery where the memorial stands. He also credits his sister, Colleen, for her dedicated work on the memorial committee. The Meaning of the Memorial: Morse explains that "the gift" represents the foundational beliefs of Native peoples—living in balance with the Creator and passing these values to the next generation. These traits are heavily reflected in the service of the Navajo Code Talkers and all Native veterans. Off-Script Acknowledgments: Stepping away from his prepared remarks, Morse highlights several important observations: The Eagle Staff: He acknowledges the Eagle Staff held at the ceremony as the true "first flag of this nation." Intertwined History: He shares a historical anecdote about his father's boarding school in Arizona, which was closed during WWII to be used as a Japanese American internment camp. Daughters of Veterans: He recognizes the vital role daughters play in keeping their veteran fathers' legacies alive, praising his sister and others in attendance. Native Women in Service: He points out the exceptionally high rate of military service among Native American women, noting that they lead the men in that demographic category. Concluding Dedication: Morse closes with a poignant story about a young Marine who befriended his father but was tragically killed in action. He expresses his hope that the new memorial—facing east to greet the dawn—will stand as a unifying symbol for the nation and inspire similar monuments across the country.

Invocation and Introduction
Now before I begin, I'm kind of like this, I just like to say a little prayer. Thank you Heavenly Father for bringing us all together here like this on this day. For all the people have come out. I just ask your blessing upon what you helped me to prepare to say before everyone today. Thank you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Yá'át'ééh shík'éí dóó shidine'é. Shi éí Elliot Morse yinishyé. Tódích'íi'nii nishłį́. Kinyaa'áanii bashishchiin. Tó ts'ohnii dashicheii. Tsi'naajinii dashinalí. Ákót'éego diné nishłį́. Na'nízhoozhí dę́ę́' naashá. Ahéhee'.

Good morning and thank you all for being here.

Honoring Family and the Navajo Code Talkers
Into his 80s, a stroke led our father Joe Morse Senior to receiving care from the staff at the Veterans Administration Jerry L. Pettis Veterans Memorial Hospital in Loma Linda, where he passed in 2011. He was a Navajo Code Talker during World War II. While other locations were considered it was his and the family's decision to have him placed here under the care of the RNC staff. In July 2024 our mother Charlotte K. Morse joined him here.

In 2019 my older sister Colleen was asked to participate in Along the Chaparral, a video anthology about veterans interred here at RNC. It's available on YouTube. Time intervening, Sharon Savage contacted my sister Colleen about joining the American Indian Alaska Native Veterans Memorial Committee for the gift memorial. I also joined and that is why we are here.

The Meaning of the Memorial
My speech time is limited so I would like us to appreciate this occasion and the import of the gift memorial. Its foundations are the original inhabitants of this continent. Their belief system. Living those beliefs. Achieving balance with the Creator each day. And passing those same beliefs on to the next generation.

If examined closer these characteristics would be identifiable in the service of the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II. And equally and more so in the service of the American Indian Alaska Native veterans. Which is what the gift represents.

Off-Script Acknowledgments
I was thinking about it and I wanted to go a little off thought, maybe I might go a little off script and just make a couple of comments.

The Eagle Staff: One thing and foremost that I wanted to say was that there's a gentleman standing over here to the east and what he is holding there is the eagle staff. Some consider it, but in thinking about it and he's been standing there all during this time, but the eagle staff is the first flag of this nation. And I think that should be acknowledged. Thank you for being there during this time.

A Note on History: One other thing too, I mentioned I heard that we had representation from a governmental official and I think it was Japanese descent. I thought that well, I mentioned this at the banquet last Wednesday to those that were there, that during the war at its beginnings he attended a boarding school, a government boarding school there at Leupp, Arizona. And while he was attending there they closed, they decided to close the school and so he didn't finish school there and went back home to his parents during the war. But the reason that the school was closed is that it was turned into a Japanese American internment camp. But the thing about this particular camp again, I don't want to get too political, but it was for those Japanese Americans who had protested the treatment that they were receiving at that time. But I thought I would mention that, that you know there's history again that goes around.

The Daughters of Veterans: Another thing is that I found this out, you know of course in the course of time that the daughters... The daughters of code talkers and in general the daughters of those who have served in the military always seem to come to the forefront in representing their fathers. So I witness that personally with my sister on her commitment to that. So it's just something that happens. I know there are other sisters this morning who you know fall into that same category, know the feeling that they have for their fathers, their grandfathers. So I just wanted to mention that.

Special Guests: And also too we have someone, some other father present here that their grandfather's brother was one of the first 29 code talkers. So I'm glad that they are here. Marsha Gorman and her son Anthony. Could you raise your hands and just... And I was just curious too if she ever made it. Is Mayor Julie here? She was having car problems this morning. I'm not too sure if she would be here tonight. I was curious about that.

Women in Service: And one other thing too. It's mentioned, it was before referred to before that the ratio of Native Americans you know that are in the service you know is high. You know among the in the populations you know to the populations, but one thing that I might add, read also is that the women lead the men in that category. So I think that's something that should be acknowledged also.

Okay I'll go ahead and come go back on script again, but thank you for that little time to say that.

Concluding Thoughts and Dedication
Out in the Pacific a young Marine befriended my father. He said, "Joe, when this war is over I want you to come home with me, meet my family. You can stay as long as you want." It did not happen. For that young Marine was killed in action.

This memorial, the gift, though it may come from different origins signifies the binding together of us as one. As one nation. So from now on facing east to greet the dawn, inspiring prayer, respecting the high mountains to the north and to the east, acknowledging the four directions for orientation. Perhaps, perhaps it will inspire similar memorials across the nation. May the gift long stand in the elements as a fitting memorial to the American Indian and Alaska Native veterans.

Yéego nishą́' bił ha'jijool, t'áá hwó' ají t'éego ya'. Ahéhee'. Ahéhee' shóma. Doo dóó shizhé'é.

Now I'll turn time over to my sister Colleen Anderson. (Applause)

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