[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 55 (Monday, May 6, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3897-S3898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      DEDICATION OF SPARK MATSUNAGA ELEMENTARY AND LONGVIEW SCHOOL

 Mr. AKAKA. Madam President, on Sunday I had the privilege of 
attending the dedication ceremony for the Spark Matsunaga Elementary 
and Longview School in Germantown, Maryland. This exceptional state-of-
the-art school facility houses a general education elementary school, 
Spark Matsunaga Elementary, and special education school for children 
with disabilities, Longview School.
  It is appropriate that this new school honors the memory of a truly 
remarkable man and former colleague--Senator Spark Matsunaga. Over the 
course of a lifetime of service to the people of Hawaii and America, 
Spark exhibited fortitude, courage, and persistence in fighting for 
what was right and what was best.
  As noted by Dr. Jerry Weast, superintendent of Montgomery County 
Public Schools, this is the first public school in the nation named in 
honor of an Asian American. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, 
Representative Connie Morella, Hawaii State Senator Matt Matsunaga, and 
Keene Matsunaga were a few of the speakers who spoke of Senator 
Matsunaga's distinguished life and career. A children's chorus 
entertained and sang the school song. The ``Home of the Geckos,'' 
Matsunaga Elementary has made a wonderful start with dedicated teachers 
and administrators and a diverse and involved community of students and 
parents.
  Spark Matsunaga's commitment to justice and lifetime of service to 
America merits this singular recognition. Throughout his career, Sparky 
worked to ensure that all Americans enjoyed the fruits of liberty and 
understood our shared responsibilities for keeping our country free and 
strong.
  Spark Matsunaga's legacy of public service, espousal of the art of 
peacemaking, and commitment to justice is a wonderful example for the 
students and staff that proudly work and learn at Matsunaga Elementary 
School.
  I know that Helene Matsunaga and the Matsunaga family are deeply 
appreciative of this unprecedented tribute, and the people of Hawaii 
take pride in Montgomery County bestowing this honor on Senator 
Matsunaga and his service to our great Nation.
  Madam President, I ask that a copy of the commemorative biography of 
Spark Matsunaga distributed at the dedication be printed in the Record.
  The biography folllows:

              Senator Spark Masayuki Matsunaga, 1916-1990

       Our school is proud to bear the name of this great American 
     whose legacy will inspire our community forever. Senator 
     Matsunaga's memory will serve to remind students and staff 
     that public service, strong educational goals, patriotism and 
     personal pride are qualities to live by. Senator Matsunaga 
     will be remembered for all his work to teach the principles 
     of peace yet value just causes for humanity. He knew when to 
     use his talents to inspire change and was never afraid to 
     stand proudly to have his voice heard.
       Spark Matsunaga, a war hero who became a Untied States 
     Senator from Hawaii, dedicated his career to promoting peace 
     and achieving justice. A Japanese-American, Matsunaga served 
     with distinction in the 100th Infantry battalion, the first 
     Japanese American unit formed during World War II, for which 
     he received the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. As a 
     political leader, he was a champion of civil rights for all 
     Americans regardless of race. As a member of the United 
     States Senate, he worked to promote the peaceful resolution 
     of conflicts, and he fought for the redress for survivors of 
     the World War II internment camps.
       Masayuki Matsunaga was born on the Island of Kauai, Hawaii, 
     on October 8, 1916. His childhood friends nicknamed him 
     Spark; he later legally adopted the name. Matsunaga attended 
     the Kauai public schools before entering the University of 
     Hawaii in 1937, majoring in education and serving in the 
     Reserve Officer Training Corps. Upon graduation in June 194l, 
     Matsunaga was commissioned in the Army and was serving on 
     active duty on the island of Molokai when Japan attacked 
     Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Shortly afterward, he and 
     other Japanese-Americans were relieved of their duties and 
     shipped to a military facility, Camp McCoy, in Wisconsin, 
     while the War Department in Washington decided whether they 
     could fight for America. Matsunaga, along with the other 
     soldiers, petitioned President Roosevelt for a chance to 
     prove their loyalty.
       In the Spring of 1942, President Roosevelt and other 
     Washington leaders determined that Japanese-Americans in the 
     army would be loyal to the country; Matsunaga and 1,500 other 
     Japanese-Americans formed the 100th Infantry Battalion and 
     trained for combat duty. In September 1943, the battalion was 
     sent to Italy; Matsunaga was wounded twice in the same night 
     while moving through a minefield. After recuperating, 
     Matsunaga could not go back to combat but received two Purple 
     Hearts and the Bronze Star for his heroic acts, and was 
     assigned to a replacement battalion.
       Late in the war, he returned to the U.S. where he gave 800 
     speeches to help Japanese-Americans become integrated into 
     the mainstream of American life after being released from the 
     detention camps where they were kept during the war. The 
     100th Infantry Battalion eventually became a part of the 
     442nd Regimental Combat Team of Japanese-American soldiers, 
     the most decorated unit in U.S. military history.
       Matsunaga returned to Hawaii in 1946, worked in veterans 
     affairs briefly, married, and then entered Harvard Law School 
     in 1948. After graduation, he practiced law in Hawaii and 
     began his political career, being elected to the Territorial 
     Legislature in which was known as the ``Democratic 
     Revolution'' of 1954 engineered by veterans of the 100th and 
     442nd to take control of the legislature for the first time. 
     Matsunaga and other Japanese-Americans were among the leaders 
     in Hawaii's bid for statehood, which passed in 1959.
       In 1962, Matsunaga won a seat in the U.S. House of 
     Representatives, making the rights of immigrants, the welfare 
     of veterans, and the defense of Japanese-Americans and other 
     minorities his hallmarks. In 1976, he was elected to the U.S. 
     Senate, supporting legislation to establish a research 
     organization called the United States Peace Institute and to 
     authorize the post of Poet Laureate. As a Senator, he was 
     also a major proponent of

[[Page S3898]]

     the use of renewable energy sources and Soviet-American 
     cooperation in space exploration. Perhaps Matsunaga's 
     greatest achievement in the Senate was obtaining redress for 
     Japanese-Americans who had been unjustly interned during 
     World War II. The survivors of the camps received ``token 
     monetary compensation'' and an apology from President Ronald 
     Reagan. Another signature legislative achievement was the 
     Spark Matsunaga Hydrogen Research and Development Act, which 
     was passed in 1990 and provides funding for research into 
     alternative energy sources. His last official act was to cast 
     a vote in favor of continuing the Clean Air Act.
       In 1990, Senator Matsunaga died while serving the U.S. 
     Senate. In his honor, the University of Hawaii established 
     the Matsunaga Institute for Peace in which scholars explore 
     ways to resolve differences without resorting to 
     violence.

                          ____________________