The staff at the American Indian College Fund is committed to embodying the values that we promote in our work outside of the workplace. We strongly believe in giving back to our local community, whether through civic participation or by contributing our time and resources to those in need.

Former Fund staff John Gritts presents Code Talker Allen Dale June with a Fund Pendleton blanket at recent benefit.

In the Community: Honoring a Hero

On January 13, 2006 American Indian College Fund staff members attended a Longmont, CO benefit dinner for Allen Dale June, one of the original World War II Navajo Code Talkers. Forging his father's signature to join the Marines at age 16, June helped to build an unbreakable communication code that many, historians and veterans alike, credit with helping to win the war.

Ironically, speaking his Native Navajo language had been cause for severe punishment for June as a student in the reservation schools growing up. For decades, the Code Talkers were not allowed to speak of their classified military activities and as a result, did not receive recognition for the service and sacrifice until 2001, when only 5 of the original 29 Code Talkers were still alive. June, and the others, received the Gold Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military distinction from President Bush in 2001.

Fund staff honored June by wrapping him in one of the organization's Pendleton blankets.