Communication is key and in a world featuring more than 7,100 languages, it may seem difficult to get your point across at times. Yet, we still do. Civilization and globalization thrive today because of our ability to communicate. Even if you don’t understand someone else’s spoken language, chances are you can still find a way to communicate. But in war, communication is vitally important because lives are on the line. Codes are often necessary to protect information. While codes can be cracked, the Navajo Code Talkers went unbroken during World War II. Today, efforts remain to immortalize those who served during WWII with the Navajo Code Talkers Museum. However, as we all know, money is the one thing everyone understands. Unfortunately, the Navajo Code Talkers Museum in Gallup, NM needs quite a sizable amount of funds. Related read: Code Talkers: The Native American Secret Weapons of WW2

Where is the Navajo Code Talkers Museum?

If you’re looking for the Navajo Code Talkers Museum, well, you’ll have to wait. As of now, the idea is to build an upgraded museum near Gallup, New Mexico. However, funding, politics, and logistics have made the challenge too great to overcome, so far. Efforts to firmly cement the official Navajo Code Talkers Museum location continue, but for now, there are exhibits and a modest presence in Gallup, NM. But as for the more modern version that is being proposed, work is still to be done. For now, the remembrance of these brave Marines can be found inside the Gallup Cultural Center. There, a host of Native American culture can be explored including the ever-important story of the Navajo Code Talkers. Suggested read: The Top 10 Best Charities for Veterans To Donate Time & Money To

Honoring Their Legacy is Going to Take a Lot More Funding

Utilizing the unwritten Diné language known by few outsiders, strategists developed a code using over 200 words. This code bewildered not only the Japanese but also the Allies and even uninformed Navajos. It was never broken during WWII. The proposed Navajo Code Talkers Museum, Gallup, in NM would honor the fighters of the building’s namesake. Yet, funding is still needed to bridge the considerable gap that would make the honor a reality. To make the project happen, another $40 million is needed, even though there was $6.4 million in funding already raised. Regan Hawthorne, CEO of the project, continues to work to bring awareness of the financial challenges the group hopes to overcome. Funding came from late Code Talker John Pinto and other lawmakers before, but securing everything that's needed to official open the museum has eluded the project. Back in 2009, Chevron Mining Co. donated more than 200 acres of land in a region most of the Code Talkers were from. However, there are several issues, such as handling landownership issues with Navajo Nation, laws in New Mexico preventing donations, and additional roadblocks preventing the museum from happening.

How to Donate to Navajo Code Talkers Museum

Unfortunately, if you’re looking to donate to the cause, New Mexico doesn’t make it quite so easy to do, as mentioned before. This is because of the Anti-Donation Clause the Land of Enchantment has entrenched in its laws. However, things are a bit more complicated than this as well. As of this writing, the official website for potential donations and the project itself seems to have been left unattended. This is mentioned because there are several potential security threats you’ll be warned about before visiting. Should you decide to visit, do so at your own risk. Hopefully, all of this is sorted out soon. The legacy of these heroes deserves to be preserved in a fitting way for generations to come. The Navajo Code Talkers Museum may not exist just yet because of funding, but their efforts continue to live on as a critical part of our success in the Pacific Theatre. Read next: The Civilian’s Guide to the US Flag Code