Go back to PRESS RELEASES
Barbara Watanabe
808-585-8484
barbaraw@goforbroke.org
Go For Broke National Education Center Honors Founders, Early Staff
Iraqi Vet Tells How Nisei Soldiers Inspired Him
(TORRANCE, CA - November 14, 2010)— Go For Broke National Education Center (GFBNEC) began its annual Evening of Aloha by recognizing all veterans of all wars and ended with a rally to carry the Nisei or second-generation Japanese American soldiers' story forward for future generations that featured a personal testimonial from an Iraq War veteran. The gala dinner was held on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010 at the Hilton Anaheim Hotel. Themed Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Future, the event offered a tribute to all veterans with particular focus on the Nisei who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service (MIS) during the second world war and established GFBNEC.
Founding visionaries Colonel Young O. Kim and Buddy Mamiya, both veterans of the 100th, along with members of the organization's Founding Board of Directors, early staff, consultants, volunteers and supporters whose leadership and hard work have brought GFBNEC to where it is today were given special recognition during the Evening of Aloha program. Christine Sato-Yamazaki, president and chief executive officer of GFBNEC for the last two of her 13 years as a staff member, was honored with a video tribute, a special award for her long-time commitment, dedication and leadership, and a commendation presented by Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry.
The granddaughter of 442nd veteran and Founding Board member Dave Kawagoye, Yamazaki thanked all of the veterans and GFBNEC for the opportunity to make sure their story is known. "This is all about the veterans," she said. "It's important to make sure that the story of the Nisei soldiers is known beyond the classrooms. The Nisei soldiers' legacy is one that will make a difference for many future generations to come."
The program opened with a procession of veterans of all wars led by a color guard from the current 100th Battalion/442nd Infantry US Army Reserves, activated in Honolulu in 1959 by the Department of Defense as a ready-reserve unit. The color guard included Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Kimo Dunn, Command Sgt. Major Glenn Gomes, Battalion Executive Officer Major Keith Horikawa, Color Guard Sgt. Christopher Arakawa, Sgt. Davin Takahashi, Specialist William Lurbe, Specialist Samson Anzai, Pfc. Johnmelchor Guillermo, Pfc. Jordan Kagehiro and Pfc. Michael Morales. The 100th Battalion/442nd is the only infantry unit in the US Army Reserve forces and served two tours in Iraq.
Nick Odani, the Iraq War veteran, told guests how the Nisei soldiers' story has touched and inspired him though he didn't embrace the legacy until he served on battlefronts with the US Marines. Odani is a former GFBNEC intern and continues to volunteer. He described conducting an interview for the Hanashi Oral History archive as a highlight of his work with the organization and has become a champion of its educational program.
Dr. Mitchell Maki, Acting Associate Vice President of Academic Programs, California State University Dominguez Hills, pointed out that all Americans have benefited from the Nisei soldiers' experiences and reminded the crowd that the objective of Evening of Aloha was to ensure that the great American story would continue to be told and shared with younger generations. US Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) offered a video message, telling guests that "many...Nisei soldiers fought for America...though...America had turned its back on them and their families."
The crowd welcomed US Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Pasadena), US Rep. Judy Chu (D-El Monte), CA State Assemblyman Warren Furutani (D-55th District), CA State Assemblyman Mike Eng (D-49th District), Consul General of Japan Junichi Ihara and dozens more dignitaries and special guests in addition to Councilmember Perry. Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro sent a special tribute video featuring his song Go For Broke. And Frank Buckley, co-anchor of KTLA-TV's Emmy Award winning KTLA Morning News, was master of ceremonies.
Celebrated chefs Roy Yamaguchi of Roy's internationally acclaimed restaurants and Akira Hirose of the critically praised Maison Akira in Pasadena, CA created the dinner menu and King's Hawaiian Bakery whipped up a triple-chocolate passion cake for dessert. Before dinner, guests engaged in friendly bidding competition for Silent Auction prizes that includes a three-night stay at Diamond Head's romantic Halekulani Hotel, a fishing package to Anchor Point Lodge in Auke Bay, AK, two round-trip first-class tickets to Hawaii on American Airlines, a ride-a-long with Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Terry Hara, a VIP tour of KTLA Morning News with Frank Buckley and a mink scarf from Edwards-Lowell Furs of Beverly Hills. As an added bonus, Edwards-Lowell is also donating 20 percent of every sale to Evening of Aloha attendees who make follow-up visits to the salon for the next 30 days.
Union Bank and Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. were the Evening of Aloha Presenting Sponsors. American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; Manabi & Sumi Hirasaki/Pacific Global Investment Management Company; Stephen Kagawa, The Pacific Bridge Companies; King's Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant and Pacific Guardian Life were Platinum Sponsors. American Airlines was the Airline Sponsor.
GFBNEC is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to educate the public about responsibilities, challenges and rights of American citizenship, using life stories of Japanese American soldiers of World War II. The organization's ongoing Hanashi Oral History Program has built an archive of more than 1,000 interviews with Japanese American World War II veterans that is the largest of its kind in the U.S. Its American Story Teacher Training Program provides curriculum materials with lessons about values and citizenship to schools from coast to coast and in Hawaii. And the organization incorporates its oral histories into teacher-training materials to give students real-life examples. Information about GFBNEC and its work is available at www.goforbroke.org
Go back to PRESS RELEASES
