Chee Secody, a 94-year-old Korean War veteran and lifelong resident of Tonalea, Arizona, recently got electricity in his home for the first time. Secody had been on a waiting list since 2017, and his turn finally came thanks to linemen from Murray City Power in Utah, who traveled to the Navajo Nation to undergo training and to help make moments like this possible. "To see the people's faces and the emotion they go through to get power, it's pretty amazing," says Eric Bracewell of Murray City Power.
Local residents gathered to witness the occasion. Secody’s neighbor Betty Tso expressed her pleasure at the occasion, saying, “He’s gonna get [electricity]. So I’m very happy about that.” The moment was emotional and significant, especially for Secody’s family. His granddaughter, Rose Nelson, says that he’s most excited about using his new power tools, even more than having a refrigerator.
The installation marked a life-changing moment for Secody, who’s lived for decades without access to the electrical grid. “Now he’ll probably have his porch light on when he gets home,” Nelson shares. The event not only brought light to his home but also shined a light on the strength of the local community and the long-awaited progress in this remote corner of the Navajo Nation.
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