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Mary Graybill, APR, Fellow PRSA,
Graybill Communications
310-441-2899
mary@graybillcom.com
Japanese American Veterans Unite to Support Congressional Gold Medal
World War II Nisei groups set overdue recognition as first joint objective
(TORRANCE, CA – Aug. 24, 2009)– World War II Japanese American veterans' organizations from throughout the United States came together for their second network meeting at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo Aug. 13 – 14, 2009. The network meeting was again hosted by Go For Broke National Education Center and a follow-up to a preliminary gathering held in Nov. 2008.
As their first joint objective, the veterans' organizations are working together to help secure the Congressional Gold Medal for the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The group sent a letter to urge adoption of this important legislation by the United States Senate. In addition, each of the organizations and individual members are asking senators from their respective states to support it. The bill has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.
U.S. Representative Adam Schiff introduced H.R.347 to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 100th and 442nd and it was adopted by the House on May 14, 2009 with 411 votes. The Honorable Barbara Boxer introduced companion bill S.1055 in the Senate and is leading the effort to finalize its passage alongside a growing number of influential cosponsors, including the Honorable Diane Feinstein, the Honorable Daniel Inouye and the Honorable Daniel Akaka. A veterans' network meeting session featured a panel on the Congressional Gold Medal legislation that included Aaron Baird, staff assistant for Congressman Schiff; Alton Garrett, Southern California director for Senator Boxer, and Pat Thomas, an organizer of the successful campaign to secure the Congressional Gold Medal for the WWII Woman Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) who were granted the award earlier this summer and the daughter of one of the pilots.
In opening remarks at the network meeting, keynote speaker U. S. Army Major General Jason Kamiya emphasized trust, alliances and common ground, and told the representatives of the 23 participating veterans organizations that the "key to collective success lies in the strength of the foundation of shared interests and trust."
In a special forum open to veterans of all wars and their families, retired US Army Colonel and former Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental and International Affairs William W. McLemore updated the group on ongoing efforts to transform the VA into a 21st century organization. He also addressed claims processing, technology applications, homeless veterans and veterans' services.
The representatives for the participating organizations drafted a purpose statement, "To preserve and promote the Japanese American veterans' legacy through a national network of information sharing, communication and education." The group emphasized that their association would not diminish or duplicate the work of any participating organization but would serve as a network of support. The organizations will share events and activities planned in their local communities to advance the Nisei soldiers' legacy through an online master calendar.
Participating organizations included the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Club, Honolulu; 100th Infantry Battalion Legacy Organization, Honolulu; 100th/442nd Veterans Association, Los Angeles; 442nd Sons & Daughters, Honolulu; 442nd Veterans Club, Honolulu; Go For Broke Association, Honolulu; Go For Broke National Education Center, Los Angeles; Houston JACL, Houston; Japanese American Veterans Association, Washington, D.C.; Japanese American Citizens League, Washington, D.C.; MIS Veterans Club of Hawaii, Honolulu; MIS Club of Southern California, Los Angeles, and the National Japanese American Historical Society, San Francisco.
Additional participants were National Japanese American Memorial Foundation, Washington, D.C.; National Japanese American Veterans Council, Washington, D.C.; Nisei Veterans Committee, Seattle; Nisei Veterans Coordinating Council, Los Angeles; Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, Maui, HI; Pinedale Assembly Center Memorial Committee, Fresno, CA; Oregon Nikkei Endowment, Portland, OR; Friends and Family of Nisei Veterans, Gilroy, CA; Chicago Nisei Post 1183, The American Legion, Chicago and Oregon Nisei Veterans, Portland, OR. Dr. Mitch Maki, Dean of the College of Health and Human Services, California State University Dominguez Hills, facilitated the meeting and moderated the Congressional Gold Medal panel.
The Go For Broke National Education Center teaches the American story of the Nisei veterans' bravery, honor, leadership, loyalty, patriotism, sacrifice and values through education and preservation programs. Its work includes: Hanashi Oral History Program, the nation's largest video oral history archive of its kind, the American Story Teacher Training Program, a Resource Center, interactive educational initiatives and the Go For Broke Monument located in the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles. Resources, including oral histories, lesson plans, historical content and membership, are available by clicking on the GFBNEC website at www.goforbroke.org.
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