Veterans Salute

A  L  O  H  A !

“Here is your country. Cherish 

these natural wonders, cherish the 

natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. 

Do not let selfish men or greedy interests 

skin your country of its beauty, 

its riches or its romance.”

Theodore Roosevelt

Japanese-American veterans

of World War II, including 60 honorees from our Hawaii received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2011, awarded collectively

to the 100th Infantry Battalion,the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service.

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 Honolulu reporter: 

"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."

And:

"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.

Many of our aging heroes aren't able to attend the Washington events, so a celebration parade was held

for them here in Waikiki 

in December 2011:

Link

Thank You

to the men and women

who care enough

to stand on the wall.

Love You,

                        cloudia