[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 46 (Wednesday, April 12, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H2168-H2169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             JOINT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING DAY OF HONOR 2000

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, first let me certainly 
acknowledge the eve of the Armenian genocide anniversary and say to my 
colleagues that all of us should acknowledge such tragic loss of life. 
But today I rise to introduce a House Joint Resolution, H.J. Res. 98, 
to designate May 25, 2000, as a national day of honor for minority 
veterans of World War II.
  Seventy-three of my colleagues have already joined me in cosponsoring 
this resolution. I want to extend my thanks to Senator Edward Kennedy 
of Massachusetts for joining me by introducing an identical resolution 
in the United States Senate. I am also very proud that the Day of Honor 
2000 Project, a nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts, has 
helped enlist the support of many Americans to make this resolution 
possible. In fact, those who are working to propose the World War II 
veterans memorial here in Washington, D.C. have acknowledged their 
support for this very special day. Without the support of the Day of 
Honor Project 2000, this resolution could have never been possible.
  The purpose of this joint resolution is to honor and recognize the 
service of minority veterans in the United States armed forces during 
World War II. The resolution calls upon communities across the Nation 
to participate in celebrations to honor minority veterans on May 25, 
2000, and throughout the year 2000. Our goal is that the Nation will 
have an opportunity to pause on May 25, leading up to Memorial Day, to 
express our gratitude to the veterans of all minority groups who served 
the Nation so ably. The day will be special because we honor those who 
fought for the preservation of democracy and our protection of our way 
of life.
  Unfortunately, many minority veterans never obtained the commensurate 
recognition that they deserve. We honor all veterans. We certainly 
honor all veterans in World War II, but it is important to designate 
and to honor those who during those times as they returned did not 
receive the fullest of honor. When we look back to the darkest days of 
World War II we remember and revere the acts of courage and personal 
sacrifice that each of our soldiers gave to their Nation to achieve 
Allied victory over Nazism and fascism.
  In the 1940s, minorities were utilized in the Allied operation just 
as any other Americans. My father-in-law in fact was part of the 
Tuskegee Airmen. Yet we have never adequately recognized the 
accomplishments of minority veterans. During the war, at least 1.2 
million African American citizens either served or sacrificed their 
lives. In addition, more than 300,000 Hispanic Americans, more than 
50,000 Asians, more than 20,000 Native Americans, more than 6,000 
native Hawaiians and Pacific islanders, and more than 3,000 native 
Alaskans also served their country or sacrificed their lives in 
preserving our freedom during World War II.
  Despite the invidious discrimination that many minority veterans were 
subjected to at home, they fought honorably along with all other 
Americans including other nations. An African American had to answer 
the call to duty as others, indeed, possibly sacrifice his life; yet he 
or she enjoyed a separate but equal status back home. This is something 
that we can readily correct and with this resolution with the number of 
cosponsors, I believe that we can move toward seeing this honor come to 
fruition on the floor of the House.
  I would ask my colleagues to readily sign on to H.J. Res. 98 to be 
able to honor these valiant and valuable members of our society for all 
that they have done. They are American heroes that deserve recognition 
for their efforts. For this reason the resolution specifically asks 
President Clinton to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of 
the United States to honor these minority veterans with appropriate 
programs and activities. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me 
in cosponsoring this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a House Joint Resolution 98 to 
designate May 25, 2000, as a national Day of Honor for minority 
veterans of World War II. 73 of my colleagues have already joined me in 
cosponsoring this resolution.
  I want to extend my thanks to Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts 
for joining me by introducing an identical resolution in the U.S. 
Senate.
  I am also very proud that The Day of Honor 2000 Project, a non-profit 
organization based in Massachusetts, has helped enlist the support of 
many Americans to make this resolution possible. Without the support of 
The Day of Honor Project 2000, this resolution could have never been 
possible.
  The purpose of this joint resolution is to honor and recognize the 
service of minority veterans in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War 
II. The resolution calls upon communities across the nation to 
participate in celebrations to honor minority veterans on May 25, 2000, 
and throughout the year 2000. Our goal is that the nation will have an 
opportunity to pause on May 25th to express our gratitude to the 
veterans of all minority groups who served the nation so ably.
  The day will be special because we honor those who fought for the 
preservation of democracy and our protection of our way of life. 
Unfortunately, many minority veterans never obtained the commensurate 
recognition that they deserve.
  When we look back to darkest days of World War II, we remember and 
revere the acts of courage and personal sacrifice that each of our 
soldiers gave to their nation to achieve Allied victory over Nazism and 
fascism. In the 1940s, minorities were utilized in the allied 
operations just as any other American.
  Yet, we have never adequately recognized the accomplishments of 
minority veterans. During the war, at least 1,200,000 African Americans 
citizens either served or sacrificed their lives. In addition, more 
than 300,000 Hispanic Americans, more than 50,000 Asians, more than 
20,000 Native Americans, more than 6,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific 
Islanders, and more than 3,000 Native Alaskans also served their 
country or sacrificed their lives in preserving our freedom during 
World War II.
  Despite the invidious discrimination that most minority veterans were 
subjected to at home, they fought honorably along with all other 
Americans, including other nations. An African American had to answer 
the call to duty, indeed possibly sacrifice his life, yet he or she 
enjoyed separate but equal status back home.
  Too often, when basic issues of equality and respect for their 
service in the war arose, Jim Crow and racial discrimination replied 
with a resounding ``no.'' This is a sad but very real chapter of our 
history.
  This all happened, of course, before the emergence of Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Sr. in America. As a nation, we have long since recognized 
the unfair treatment of minorities as a travesty of justice. The 
enactment of fundamental civil rights laws by Congress over the past 
half-century have remedied the worst of these injustices. And this has 
given us some hope. But, as we all know, we have yet to give adequate 
recognition to the service, struggle, and sacrifices of these brave 
Americans who fought in World War II for our future.
  For many of these minority veterans, the memories of World War II 
never disappear. When we lose a loved one, whether it is a mother, 
father, sibling, child, or friend, we often sense that we lose a part 
of ourselves. For each of us, the loss of life--whether expected or 
not--is not easily surmountable.
  Minority veterans had to overcome a great deal after the war. They 
not only came back

[[Page H2169]]

to a nation that did not treat them equally, but they were never 
recognized for the uniqueness of their efforts during the war. Like of 
many of us, they adapted to changes or were the engines of social 
change. But they have suffered and sacrificed so much that few of us 
will ever understand.
  Veterans are dying at a rate of more than 1,000 a day. It is 
especially important, therefore, for Congress and the administration to 
do their part now to pay tribute to these men and women who served so 
valiantly in that conflict.
  The minority veterans from World War II represent a significant part 
of what has been called America's Greatest Generation. They are 
American heroes that deserve recognition for their efforts. For this 
reason, the resolution specifically asks President Clinton to issue a 
proclamation ``calling upon the people of the United States to honor 
these minority veterans with appropriate programs and activities.''
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this 
resolution.
  The text of the joint resolution is as follows:

                              H.J. Res. 98

       Whereas World War II was a determining event of the 20th 
     century in that it ensured the preservation and continuation 
     of American democracy;
       Whereas the United States called upon all its citizens, 
     including the most oppressed of its citizens, to provide 
     service and sacrifice in that war to achieve the Allied 
     victory over Nazism and fascism;
       Whereas the United States citizens who served in that war, 
     many of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, 
     included more than 1,200,000 African Americans, more than 
     300,000 Hispanic Americans, more than 50,000 Asian Americans, 
     more than 20,000 Native Americans, more than 6,000 Native 
     Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and more than 3,000 Native 
     Alaskans;
       Whereas because of invidious discrimination, many of the 
     courageous military activities of these minorities were not 
     reported and honored fully and appropriately until decades 
     after the Allied victory in World War II;
       Whereas the motto of the United States, ``E Pluribus Unum'' 
     (Out of Many, One), promotes our fundamental unity as 
     Americans and acknowledges our diversity as our greatest 
     strength; and
       Whereas the Day of Honor 2000 Project has enlisted 
     communities across the United States to participate in 
     celebrations to honor minority veterans of World War II on 
     May 25, 2000, and throughout the year 2000: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
     Congress--
       (1) commends the African American, Hispanic American, Asian 
     American, Native American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific 
     Islander, Native Alaskan, and other minority veterans of the 
     United States Armed Forces who served during World War II;
       (2) especially honors those minority veterans who gave 
     their lives in service to the United States during that war;
       (3) supports the goals and ideas of the Day of Honor 2000 
     in celebration and recognition of the extraordinary service 
     of all minority veterans in the United States Armed Forces 
     during World War II; and
       (4) authorizes and requests that the President issue a 
     proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to 
     honor these minority veterans with appropriate programs and 
     activities.

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