The National Security Agency will be presenting its highest honor to all Native American Code Talkers on Tuesday.

The induction of the Code Talkers into the Cryptologic Hall of Honor marks the first time a group has received the agency's top award. It's meant to recognize all known and unknown soldiers who used their Native languages to develop, send and translate codes during the nation's wars.

“Native Americans have fought for this nation in every major conflict since the Revolutionary War,” said Kevin Gover, the director of the National Museum of the American Indian. “They have served and continue to enlist at a higher percentage than any other ethnic group. The Native American Code Talkers epitomize the strength of multiculturalism that makes America great. Their contributions saved thousands upon thousands of lives.”

NMAI in DC will host one of the plaques that's being dedicated to the Code Talkers. The other will reside at NSA headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland.

Tuesday's ceremony will take place at 11am at NMAI. It was originally scheduled for March but had to be postponed due to a severe winter storm.

Also Today:
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Navajo Code Talker Chester Nez to be Marines guest of honor (KOAT 4/3)

Related Stories:
Edmond A. Harjo, Code Talker from Seminole Nation, passes away (3/31)
Congress honors 33 tribes for sending Code Talkers into battle (11/21)
Code Talkers receive long overdue honors for service in military (11/20)
Code Talkers to receive Congressional Gold Medal at US Capitol (11/18)