Filipino war veterans to receive ‘Congressional Gold Medal’ from US

In a report published by Philippine Daily Inquirer, a bill to honor Filipino soldiers who fought under US command in World War II with the Congressional Gold Medal has been passed on November 30, 2016 as the US House of Representatives voted for the passage of the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 (H.R. 2737).

Sen. Mazie Hirono (center), who sponsored the Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 in the Senate, with leaders and members of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP) celebrate after Congress approved the bill granting recognition to Filipino World War II veterans.

(Image grabbed from filvetrep.org)

The Congressional Gold Medal is among the highest civilian honors in the US. According to Tony Taguba, chairman of The Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project and a US Army veteran, in a news release via filvetrep.org, the medal “is now their symbol of dignity and honor restored, and the triumph they had sought for a very long time.”

Leslie Moe-Kaiser, OCA National President, added that “over 200,000 Filipinos fought on behalf of the United States and today only 15,000 remain. We hope that this Congressional Gold Medal may finally honor their distinguished and crucial role in American history.”

The bill will now be submitted to President Barack Obama to be signed. With this, Filipino veterans will be granted the family immigration benefits that they were promised.

 

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, filvetrep.org