[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 105 (Monday, July 29, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  COMMEMORATING THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF ASIAN HOLOCAUST OF WWII (1931-
                                 1945)

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 26, 2002

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Eugene Wei on 
the grand opening of the American Museum of Asian Holocaust, located at 
400 Taylor Avenue in Falls Creek, Pennsylvania. The museum came about 
as a result of Mr. Wei's vision. I commend Mr. Wei for having the 
foresight to create such an important learning institution.
  The mission statement of the museum is ``to remember those events of 
World War Two in Asia, preserve them through photographs, written word 
and multimedia, and to educate the public now and in the future so that 
the wounds of the past may be healed through repentance of the 
perpetrators and forgiveness from the victims and their families.''
  This museum will have photographic exhibits of the Asian Holocaust of 
World War Two, which was perpetrated by the invading and occupying 
forces of Japan in Asian countries including China, Korea, the 
Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, as well as stories of 
the American defense of Bataan and Corregidor. The museum will tell the 
story of the plight of the American POWs who were forced to work for 
Japanese companies as slave laborers in coal mines, shipyards, copper 
mines and steel mills and their horrible hell ships experiences.
  Existing exhibits made by the Alliance for Preserving the Truth of 
Sino-Japanese War (APTSJW) on the Rape of Nanking, Comfort Women, and 
Japanese Unit 731 biological and chemical warfare, will be on display 
at the museum as well. A special display on anthrax attacks in China by 
Japan during the years 1942-1944 will also be shown.
  I commend Eugene Wei for educating the public about the atrocities 
that took place in the Pacific Theater during World War Two. This is 
not an easy history to tell, but it must be told so that we do not 
repeat it in the future. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all those who have 
the opportunity, to visit this important museum.

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