The Americans of Japanese Ancestry WWII Memorial Alliance, Japanese American Korean War Veterans, Japanese American Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee, and Veterans Memorial Court Alliance announced that on Saturday, May 23, at 11 a.m., the annual Memorial Day service to honor all Japanese Americans who gave their lives in our nation’s wars, will be held adjacent to the Japanese American National War Memorial Court at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC), 244 S. San Pedro St. in Little Tokyo.
“Our community and nation are forever indebted to these Japanese Americans from all wars, whose names are engraved on the four monuments in the Memorial Court, for their supreme sacrifices for the United States of America,” event organizers said. “We invite fellow veterans, active duty personnel and all members of the community to join us to remember and honor our heroes, who gave their precious lives on our behalf.”
The keynote speaker will be Terry Hara, retired deputy chief of the LAPD. Singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America” will be Keiko Kawashima of the Grateful Crane Ensemble, and tentatively scheduled to be the emcee is Maj. Justine Iacono, U.S. Air Force.
Also participating will be representatives from the many veteran and community organizations throughout the Southern California area. Koyasan Buddhist Temple’s Boy Scout Troop 379 and Redondo Union High School’s Marine Corp Jr. ROTC will again perform the uniformed ceremonies of the service. Representatives from the Buddhist and Christian faiths will offer prayers to these brave men.
Gold Star mothers and families in attendance will be acknowledged. All those for whom organizers have an address will be invited by letter. If you have not received a letter, contact Ken Hayashi at (323) 585-0802, (323) 588-7716 (fax), or kenh@rogerspoultry.com; or David Miyoshi at (310) 378-0615, (310) 378-0000 (fax), or david@miyoshilaw.com.
For more information on the event, contact Hayashi or Miyoshi at the above numbers or Sam Shimoguchi at (310) 822-6688.