Guitar honors Navajo codetalkers

Navajo artist creates guitar to honor Navajo Code TalkersTo honor the Navajo Code Talkers, Shonie De La Rosa has created and dedicated a very special, custom made guitar to the Navajo Code Talkers. A limited run of only four Navajo Code Talker guitars will be built, one for each of the four traditional Navajo cardinal directions. De La Rosa was inspired by these local heroes--farmers and sheep herders--on the Navajo Nation who used the Navajo language as an unbreakable code during the most intense days of conflict during World War II.

Navajo Code Talker guitar serial No. CT001 will grace the floor of the Native American Pavilion at NAMM 2011 in Anaheim, Calif. At 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15, Holiday will make a very special appearance to sign the Navajo Code Talker guitar.Comment:  For more on the codetalkers, see Only Codetalkers Can Stop Wikileaks? and Navajo Codetalker Writes Memoir.

Below:  "Navajo Code Talker Samuel Tom Holiday holds up a one-of-a-kind guitar created by Navajo artist Shonie De La Rosa in honor of the Navajo Code Talkers and their distinguished military service during WWII. The guitar, which will be signed by all surviving Navajo Code Talkers, will be placed on display at the Navajo Code Talkers Museum in Window Rock."