American Legion Post 13, Henry “Gene” Burton Sr. Memorial , Sitka Alaska
What a honor it was yesterday to be able to attend the celebration of Code Talker, Louis Minard at the Sitka National Cemetery. He was able to join his brothers in arm, Harvey and Mark Jacobs in his final resting place with being honored finally as a Tlingit Code Talker. Louis’s stone will be the first in Alaska to carry the “Code Talker” identifier. (We are working on getting the Jacob brothers stones updated as well).
Later that day our Commander spoke at the Sitka Historical Society & Museum’s annual meeting. This years theme of both the meeting and the Alaska Day event is “Honoring our Alaskan Code Talkers”. The Commander presented power point presentation on all 6 Tlingit Code Talkers. His message was clear, we need to continue to search and bring forward those that have been missed. These men, the Code Talkers, kept their secrets with the upmost honor and while it is commendable, due to the declassification of their service, their history must be found and documented to honor our past and to educate the future.
For his dedication to bringing Louis Minard his rightful place amongst his fellow Code Talkers, daughter Denise, granddaughter Rachel and great-granddaughter Madison gifted the Commander a Tin’aa (Copper Shield).
The high point of the night was the personal word spoken by the family members of the Code Talkers. Harold Jacobs brought the actual Killer Whale regalia used for the Code Talker coin as well as Mark Jacobs Jr’s Silver Congressional Medallion and certificate.
Family members that took time to share their memories:
Major Florence “Flo” Murray – Code Talker George Lewis
Harold Jacobs – Code Talkers Mark & Harvey Jacobs
Peter Karras – Code Talkers mark and Harvey Jacobs
Rachel Roy/Madison Roy – Code Talker Louis Minard
The event was filmed and once the Museum releases a link we will post it here.
The American Legion, Department of Alaska