Wednesday, November 2, 2011

WWII Veterans from Hawaii Awarded

Aloha SALUTE!





Today, proud, elderly, Japanese-American veterans
of World War II,
including 60 honorees from our Hawaii
finally
received
their Congressional Gold Medal.



  More than 400 Nisei veterans took part
  in Congressional Gold Medal events.

Today's ceremony took place
in Emancipation Hall
at  the U.S. Capitol.


The medal was awarded collectively


click on the photos to be awed









They  served this country with much-noted heroism despite the fact that some had parents and siblings confined to internment camps at a time when Japanese Americans faced distrust unmatched by anything directed towards German Americans.


Jack Nakamura, 88,
who was wounded twice
told a reporter last week: 

"That's one reason why I joined, volunteered, too.
They were calling me 'Jap' and stuff like that.
My mother said, 'No, don't join up.'
But I joined up anyway," recalled Nakamura,
a 100th Infantry Battalion veteran.


"After all that we went through and all that,
and to be recognized for what we did 
and all that, I'm grateful to the government
for awarding us this medal,"
said Takashi Shirakata,
a 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran.


When these veterans arrived in Washington, D.C. this past Monday morning they received a special honor at the airport as their plane was saluted with jets of water from airport firefighters. 


The medal itself will be archived at the 
Smithsonian Institution.

Each Hawaii veteran will receive their own as well.

Many of these aging heroes aren't able to attend the Washington events, so a celebration is being planned
for them here in Waikiki in December.


 I walk past this memorial on my way
to my Waikiki Post Office




If we 
would put country and family
ahead of self
as these men did,
many losing their lives,
their companions,
then America
would be
America
again.


Amen.


Thank You for sharing in this.
YOUR comment is valued.


                                                 warmly, cloudia




27 comments:

FilipBlog said...

Nice memorial

Greetings,
Filip

Dina said...

I read and am in awe and tears.

Tears for what these units gave
and cheers for what they now receive.

Anonymous said...

What about the Koreans and Chinese and Filipinos who served in the war? They should be honored, too.

Feisty Crone said...

Nice tribute.

Jenn Jilks said...

We have much to learn from our elders and our veterans. Well done, CLoudia.
What a beautiful memorial.

Kay said...

Thank you so much for this beautiful post, Cloudia. I have uncles that served in the 442nd and 100th and so does Art. This is such a wonderful honor for them. I've never seen that memorial in Waikiki. It's beautiful!

Lynn said...

I agree with you - exactly. I am so glad that these heroes have finally been honored.

Windsmoke. said...

My sentiments exactly and a most Bonza memorial :-).

Kay said...

I just found that I did a post about this last year in September.

http://travelerswife.blogspot.com/2010/09/gold-medal-for-100th442nd.html

It really is a proud day.

nanny said...

Such a beautiful memorial.....
Long time coming....
Well deserved.....

Anonymous said...

... and the sun did wear its true colour.

Please have you all a good Thursday.


daily athens photo

Miriam said...

Beautiful. I have friends from Japan, they are among good people, among the nicest people I know.
Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

SandyCarlson said...

That is fabulous news. It's great to read this today. Thanks.

Cloudia said...

Kay's comments got me crying ALL over again; thanks dear neighbor.

Jerusalem Dina, I forgot to mention that these units shot the lock off the gate at Dachau!


Thanks EACH of you my friends-

nazelet said...

so touching.

Teresa said...

Great post! Thanks for the postive story!

Teresa said...

Great post! Thanks for the postive story!

Rick said...

A beautiful tribute, and well-deserved.

Aloha !

Rajesh said...

Very brave people.

Cloudia said...

Thank YOU

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

War is always cruel to the people, does not matter which side ...

magiceye said...

beautiful.....


namaste /\ from mumbai
aloha!

claude said...

Great post, Cloudia !
Very nice Tribute.
The memorial is very beautiful.
Aloha !

Commander Zaius said...

Great post and awesome tribute!

Rahul Bhatia said...

A great tribute!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Brilliant tribute Cloudia and very well deserved.

Cloudia said...

thanks!