The Japanese American Veterans Association participated in Memorial Day Weekend events to honor the deceased members of America’s armed forces, including Japanese Americans and other Asian Pacific Americans. The Japanese American Veterans Association participated in Memorial Day Weekend events to
The Japanese American Veterans Association participated in Memorial Day Weekend events to honor the deceased members of America’s armed forces, including Japanese Americans and other Asian Pacific Americans.
The 64th annual Memorial Day Service, sponsored jointly by the Japanese American Citizens League — Washington, D.C., Chapter and JAVA, was held Sunday, May 27, at the Arlington National Cemetery Columbarium Ceremonial Courtyard.
The speakers made their remarks in the tranquility of the 600-acre military cemetery with row after row of white crosses lined up in formation in the background.
“So let us remember those who never came home. Let us remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for others, for their nation, and for the people of other nations. Let us remember, and let us be forever grateful,” said the principal speaker, Army Lt. Col. Kay Wakatake.
On Monday, Wakatake led the JAVA contingent in the American Veterans Center parade down Constitution Avenue.
“The real meaning of Memorial Day itself is often overlooked and replaced by a focus on long vacation weekends and barbeques … Memorial Day shouldn’t be about what we do, but what our veterans have done for us,” said Griffith.
“Those people who are in the military put their lives on the line every day. They are doing it because they love our country, not because they are being forced to — just like our World War II veterans and the Japanese Americans in the 100th-442nd and the Military Intelligence Service,” noted Penn.
After conveying JACL and JAVA’s welcome, Faden said, “We express our gratitude for their (100th, 442nd and MIS) heroic acts and sacrifices during World War II and for their work in rebuilding Japan and Europe afterwards.”
“World War II Nisei soldiers won battles on the battlefield and fought prejudice at home. Their sacrifices and service will continue to be the leadership model for future generations to follow,” said Yamada. Following the program event Chairman Turner Kobayashi arranged teams to decorate 75 Japanese American gravesites.
The next morning, Yamada was invited to Arlington National Cemetery to witness President Barack Obama lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown, then joined other JAVA members in the amphitheater where the president, following an earlier appearance at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, addressed the nation.
This annual march is an especially significant event for JAVA because on July 15, 1946 the 442nd Regimental Combat Team marched down this same path to the Ellipse to be reviewed by President Harry Truman. There, Truman confirmed to the Japanese American soldiers the loyalty of persons of Japanese ancestry.
“Truman’s statement, which attempted to defeat prejudice, discrimination and racism against minorities, also helped to set the stage for reforms that would benefit all minorities, not just Japanese Americans,” said JAVA spokesman Terry Shima.
The JAVA parade contingent was made up of former soldiers of the 442nd and MIS wearing their veteran’s caps, a 1942 model Jeep, and veterans of conflicts since World War II.
“The group generated favorable reactions from the estimated 250,000 people who lined up on both sides of the parade route. Many waved enthusiastically, some stood erect, rendering the hand salute amidst shouts of ‘Go For Broke’ and ‘442nd’,” said Shima.
“With great anticipation, next year the 2013 JAVA contingent will be bolstered by the participation of the color guards from the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, a U.S. Army Reserve unit in Hawaii with two deployments to the Middle East war zone,” said Shima.