[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H3470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF MARY KAGEYAMA NOMURA

  (Mr. MIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of 
Mary Kageyama Nomura, lovingly remembered as the ``Songbird of 
Manzanar,'' who passed away peacefully last month at the age of 100.
  Born in Los Angeles in 1925, Mary had endured profound hardship from 
a young age, losing both of her parents and trying to help hold her 
family together during unimaginable uncertainty.
  At just 15 years of age, she and her siblings were incarcerated at 
the Japanese-American internment camp at Manzanar during World War II.
  Yet, even during one of the darkest chapters of American history, 
Mary brought light through her music. Her remarkable voice lifted 
spirits throughout the camp and earned her the enduring nickname, the 
``Songbird of Manzanar.'' Through song, she gave comfort, hope, and 
humanity to those around her.
  Mary later built a beautiful life with her husband, Shiro Nomura, 
raising five children and helping establish a thriving family business 
in Orange County. Though she never pursued fame or riches, she 
continued sharing her extraordinary talent with communities across 
California and Japan for decades.
  Mary Nomura's life is a testament to resilience, grace, and the power 
of art to heal and unite us. May we honor her memory by preserving the 
stories of those who endured injustice and by ensuring that their 
voices are never forgotten.

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