The Los Angeles Regional Congressional Gold Medal (CGM) Celebration honoring the members of the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service of World War II, will be held on Saturday, June 9, at the Go For Broke Monument in Little Tokyo from 9-11 a.m.
All veterans, widows and KIA next of kin and other family members in the greater Los Angeles area and others from around the country who were not able to travel to Washington, D.C. for the ceremony in November 2011 are expected to attend.
Maj. Gen. Rodney Kobayashi
Replicas of the CGM will be presented to every veteran, widow and KIA next of kin in attendance who has not received a replica of the medal at a previous ceremony. The presentation is made possible through the generosity of an anonymous donor and community fundraising efforts. In addition, every veteran family will receive a copy of Senate Bill S. 1055, which awarded the CGM to the 100th, the 442nd and the MIS.
Serving as keynote speaker for the celebration will be Maj. Gen. (retired) Rodney Kobayashi, former commander of the Army’s 91st Division. He will also present Bronze Star Medals to 29 members of the 100th, 442nd and MIS or their families. The medals are being awarded to the veterans for their meritorious service in support of military operations as combat infantrymen and medics during World War II.
ABC7 news anchor David Ono will serve as master of ceremonies, with Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Pasadena), who introduced the House version of the CGM legislation, presenting a history of the medal. Closing remarks will be presented by former California Assemblymember George Nakano. In addition to Schiff, expected to take part in the presentation ceremony are Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Los Angeles), Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and Judy Chu (D-El Monte).
A joint effort of several organizations, including the Go For Broke National Education Center, the 100th/442nd Veterans Association, the MIS Veterans Association of Southern California, the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans, the Japanese American National Museum, JACL-Pacific Southwest District, the Japanese American Bar Association and the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, the celebration is expected to draw about 1,500 people, including nearly 150 surviving members of the Nisei units.
“We’re very excited about the Congressional Gold Medal celebration,” said Don Nose, executive director of the Go For Broke National Education Center, one of the sponsors of the event. “It is a true community effort with people volunteering from all over Southern California.
“An event like this also brings history to life for the younger members of our community,” he continued, “and helps all of us to remember the legacy of these brave men.”
The Go For Broke Monument is located at 160 N. Central Ave., in downtown Los Angeles, adjacent to The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. For more information, contact Chris Ohama at (310) 503-8120 or chris@goforbroke.org.