Amb. Gaa Reaffirms Continued Effort to Correct a Grave Injustice on 62nd Anniversary of Enactment of Rescission Act
After laying a wreath at
the Bataan-Corregidor marker at the World War II Memorial in Washington
D.C. on 19 February 2008, Philippine Ambassador to the United States
Willy C. Gaa hosted a lunch-reception in honor of Filipino WWII veterans
and representatives from the community to bring attention to the
enactment of the U.S. Rescission Act of 1946 and to the ongoing struggle
to correct this grave injustice committed on Filipino WWII veterans 62
years ago.
This event is one of several events that will also be conducted by the
other Philippine Consulates General in the United States in coordination
with the communities in their respective jurisdictions to highlight the
continuing plight of the Filipino WWII veterans and their decades long
quest for justice and due recognition for their sacrifices and services
on behalf of the U.S. government and for the cause of liberty during
WWII.
In his remarks delivered at the luncheon, Ambassador Gaa brought
attention to the injustice committed on these veterans by noting that,
“On February 18, 1946, a grave injustice was committed against the brave
Filipino men and women who fought for freedom and who sacrificed and
risked all to stop tyranny.”
Ambassador Gaa also acknowledged the value and importance of these
veterans’ service and sacrifice in stating, “It is because of your
courage that we now live free. You are the living symbol of the very
freedom we now enjoy.”
The Ambassador’s remarks also made mention of the coincidence of the
launching of the Philippine-U.S. “Balikatan” military exercises in the
Philippines on the same day as the 62nd anniversary of the Rescission
Act’s enactment. While the Ambassador noted that some may find irony in
this, he instead sees hope as this exercises symbolizes the continuing
partnership between the Philippines and the United States in the defense
of freedom and democratic ideals and values. A partnership born in the
battlefields of Bataan, forged in the trenches of Corregidor and sealed
in the nameless jungles and towns where the struggle for liberty was
bravely fought; a partnership that will help propel these veterans’
cause to correct a grave injustice.
In the latter part of his remarks during the luncheon, Ambassador Gaa
addressed members of the Filipino American community and recognized
their efforts and called for their continued support for the veterans’
cause with the following statements, “We stand on the verge of
correcting this great wrong. We have gone far in this task, the farthest
we have ever gone. We have gotten this far because of your commitment,
dedication and unwavering faith. We will continue this fight. Together
we will reach this goal. Together we will correct a grave injustice.”
END.
PHOTOS: (Upper left) Ambassador Gaa hosts a lunch reception on 19 February 2008 for Filipino WWII veterans and members of Filipino veterans organizations and the community at the Philippine Embassy following the conduct of a wreath laying ceremony at the WWII Memorial; (Upper right) Ambassador Gaa delivers his statement calling on everyone not to forget the injustice done to Filipino WWII veterans with the passage of the Rescission Act of 1946 and to reaffirm the Embassy’s continuing effort to ensure that this grave injustice is corrected; (Lower left) Mr. Ben De Guzman, National Coordinator of the National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity (NAFVE), updating the audience on developments in the campaign to secure recognition and equity for Filipino WWII veterans; (Lower right) Filipino WWII veteran Amadeo Urbano f the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans (ACFV)sharing his views on the issue and the struggle for recognition and justice.