(remembering our Veterans - Remembering the late Daniel Inouye U.S. Senator Hawaii) VICE SPEAKER MIZUNO wrote HCR24, which passed the Hawaii Legislature in 2009 URGING THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE TO ISSUE POSTAL STAMPS HONORING THE WORLD WAR II NISEI SOLDIERS, OTHER DISTINGUISHED MILITARY UNITS IN UNITED STATES HISTORY, AND AMERICANS WHO FOUGHT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE OR NATIONAL ORIGIN. Today the dream has come true! WHEREAS, Over twenty thousand Nisei (second generation Japanese in the United States), many from internment camps, enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, despite the prejudice generated after the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan in 1941; and WHEREAS, on February 1, 1943, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was activated by President Roosevelt, stating that Americanism is not and never was, a matter of race and ancestry; and WHEREAS, among their many battles, Nisei soldiers in Europe fought at Monte Cassino, and were critical in breaking the German Gothic Lines, and liberating towns such as Bruyeres, Biffontaine, and Belvedere, as well as freeing and aiding Holocaust victims from the Dachau concentration camps; and WHEREAS, the most famous Nisei unit, the 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team also known as the Go For Broke regiment, was the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in American history; and WHEREAS, the 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Teams rescue of the Lost Battalion was acknowledged to be one of the prominent battles in Army history in which they led a heroic drive through German lines in the Vosges Mountains in October 1944 freeing over two hundred fellow American soldiers of the 36th Texas Division; and WHEREAS, the Nisei soldiers of World War II earned twenty-one Medals of Honor, nine Presidential Unit citations, and more than nine thousand Purple Hearts; and WHEREAS, the Nisei soldiers of World War II proved their loyalty through the sacrifices they made in service to the United States and the decorations and awards they earned are a permanent and indisputable record of their bravery and patriotism; and WHEREAS, in 2006 a nationwide campaign started in California to urge the United States Postal Service to issue a commemorative postage stamp to honor the contributions of the Nisei soldiers of World War II; and WHEREAS, the United States Postal Service has issued stamps honoring other brave and distinguished minority veterans groups, such as Hispanic-American soldiers recognized in 1984 and African-American Buffalo soldiers in 1994; and WHEREAS, the service of these minority Nisei soldiers throughout our countrys history helped to dispel many of the myths that were so prevalent about the abilities and loyalties of these individuals, and worked toward enhancing race relations and ending discrimination based on race; and WHEREAS, numerous other military units have served with distinction throughout the history of this great nation, including units such as the 54th Massachusetts during the American Civil War, and the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions during World War II; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature urges the Postmaster General to approve the issuance of a United States Postal Service commemorative stamp honoring the significant contributions of the Nisei soldiers in the United States Army during World War II and honoring their shining example of patriotic sacrifice in our nations history and their service with outstanding valor despite the many obstacles against them; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Postmaster General is also urged to consider and approve the issuance of United States Postal Service commemorative stamps honoring other distinguished military units from throughout the history of this great nation; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Postmaster General is also urged to consider and approve the issuance of United States Postal Service commemorative stamps honoring individuals and organizations who were instrumental in enhancing race relations in the United States and who worked toward ending discrimination based on race or national origin; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to United States Postmaster General, Chief Executive Officer John Potter, and Hawaiis congressional delegation.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 03:13:00 +0000