[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13239]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              SALUTE TO LIBERTY: MANY JOURNEYS, ONE DREAM

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity 
to highlight the achievements and experiences of Asian Pacific 
Americans in our country. Asian Pacific American Heritage month, 
observed during the month of May, celebrates the diverse cultures 
represented by the over 13 million Americans of Asian and Pacific 
Island heritage in our country. The theme for this year's APA month, 
``Salute to Liberty: Many Journeys, One Dream'' represents Asian 
Pacific Americans' diverse paths to achieving their goals. In New 
Jersey, where Asians are the fastest growing racial group, this month 
is particularly significant. Asian Pacific Americans in my State play 
important roles such as educating our students, owning small 
businesses, working on new technologies, and holding public office.
  The difficult journeys of Asian Pacific Americans include the Chinese 
laborers who built our Nation's railroads, Japanese Americans who were 
sent to internment camps during WWII, refugees from Vietnam and other 
Southeast Asian nations, immigrants from the Indian subcontinent, and 
Filipino farm workers. Despite the great obstacles faced on these 
journeys, Asian Pacific Americans have accomplished a great deal and 
have made major contributions to our country.
  First and foremost, I would like to recognize the service of Asian 
Pacific Americans in our Armed Forces, especially as we celebrate 
Memorial Day. The history of Asian Pacific Americans in military 
service stretches from William Ah Hang, who enlisted in the U.S. Navy 
during the Civil War, to the more than 25,000 Japanese Americans who 
served during World War II, to the young APA men and women fighting 
terrorism today. In particular, I would like for us to remember Lance 
Corporate Alan Dinh Lam, a 19 year old Vietnamese-American from North 
Carolina and Corporal Kempahoom A. Chanawongse, a 22 year old Thai-
American who moved from Thailand to Connecticut at age 9. These two 
young men recently gave their lives for our country during the war with 
Iraq.
  I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the 
contributions of Asian Pacific Americans in space exploration. Kalpana 
Chawla was the first Indian-American woman to go into space. Although 
she lost her life during the recent space shuttle Columbia disaster, 
Ms. Chawla will be remembered for her work in the field of aerospace 
engineering. Currently, another Asian Pacific American, Eric Lu, is 
working on the International Space Station. His work is certain to 
inspire many young men and women interested in space.
  The brave men and woman I mentioned today are only a small example of 
the difficult endeavors undertaken by Asian Pacific Americans. It is my 
hope that recognizing the heritage and accomplishments of Asian Pacific 
Americans will inspire the next generation to embark upon challenging 
journeys and reach their dreams.

                          ____________________