[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 3739-3740]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            H. RES. 109, PINEDALE ASSEMBLY CENTER RESOLUTION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Costa) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
109, recognizing the historical significance of the Pinedale Assembly 
Center located in Fresno, California.
  The history of this internment center is a reflection of the 65th 
anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which reminds us of a dark chapter 
in U.S. history.
  On February 19, 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the order 
authorizing the forced internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans, 
placing tremendous hardship on the innocent that, in many cases, 
resulted in a loss of jobs, businesses, property and ultimately, in 
some cases, their dignity.
  Further, the internment was a violation of their constitutional 
rights. Internees were denied their liberty, their civil rights, the 
right to due process, and equal protection under the law. Yet, no 
Japanese American, before or after their internment, was ever accused 
or convicted of espionage or sabotage.
  In fact, over 14,000 Japanese Americans served valiantly and on a 
voluntary basis in our Armed Forces during World War II with great 
distinction. One could only imagine what went through their minds, the 
members of our military, as they defended our Nation's freedoms, while 
their own families were languishing back in American internment camps.
  Pinedale, then, following the order, was a relocation center, and the 
Japanese Americans throughout the West were asked to report to these 
relocation centers. This relocation center handled over 4,823 
individuals.
  Numbers are just numbers, ladies and gentlemen. But let me tell you 
some of the stories that passed through this camp.
  A dear friend of mine, and a beloved Member of this body, the late 
Congressman Bob Matsui, arrived at the Pinedale Assembly Center at age 
two. Congressman Matsui fought against all odds, as did all of those, 
and despite the prejudice and the hardships, rose to be a great leader 
of our Nation.
  Another story, James Hirabayashi, interned there at age 17. And he 
wrote, and you can imagine hearing the words: ``My parents and three 
siblings and myself occupied a single barrack at the Pinedale detention 
camp. However, we were soon to be split further apart and never 
regained the unified family life during the war.''
  Later, James received his Ph.D. at Harvard, became a professor of 
anthropology at San Francisco State and now chairs the Asian Studies 
program.
  Another story: Jack Hata was evacuated to Pinedale on his 21st 
birthday. He recalled: ``The assembly center was made up of rows of 
tarpapered black barracks enclosed by barbed wire fencing with armed 
guard towers. The most vivid recollection of the Pinedale experience 
had to be that of a strong, hot wind picking up every mid-afternoon 
blowing dust over the entire camp and making seeing and breathing very 
difficult.''
  Today, ladies and gentlemen, much has changed. Pinedale is a part of 
our history, a place of loss, of hatred and fear. But now it will be 
transformed into a place of remembrance for healing and hope.
  The Pinedale Assembly Center Memorial Project Committee cosponsored 
by the Central California District of Japanese American Citizens and 
the California Nikkei Foundation is establishing a memorial. The 
memorial would not have been possible without the dedication and 
diligence of all those who have supported this effort, including Judge 
Dale Ikeda, chairman of the memorial project.
  I am one of those that serves on the Project Advisory Committee. But 
Dale says it best: ``By preserving the Pinedale Assembly Center story, 
we hope to teach a lesson in history, that it takes people to ensure 
`justice for all.' And rather, it is the duty of each generation to 
strive to form a more perfect union for ourselves and for the sake of 
our children.''
  The memorial groundbreaking will take place next week, February 19, 
on the 65th anniversary of the executive order.

[[Page 3740]]

  Today, over 5,000 Japanese Americans, many former World War II 
internees and their families, live in Fresno County, and the Pinedale 
Memorial will honor these and those who suffered during that period.
  The memorial sends a message that we are committed to healing 
historical wounds and replacing the prejudice and fear with the 
American values of equality and justice.
  It has been said that those who cannot learn from history are doomed 
to repeat it. Let's make sure this memorial helps us learn.
  Allow me to close by reading the parts of the memorial plaque 
inscription that will be dedicated next week: ``This Memorial is 
dedicated to over 4,800 Americans of Japanese ancestry who were 
confined at the Pinedale Assembly Center. This was an early phase of a 
mass incarceration of over 120,000 Japanese Americans. They were 
detained without charges, trial or establishment of guilt. May such 
injustices and suffering never recur.''

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