Friday, December 16, 2016

Obama signs Congressional gold medal act for Pinoy WWII vets

From InterAksyon (Dec 16): Obama signs Congressional gold medal act for Pinoy WWII vets



US President Barack Obama has signed into law the "Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015," the Philippine embassy in Washington said.

The law grants “a single Congressional gold medal of appropriate design on behalf of the Congress to the Filipino Veterans of World War II in recognition of the dedicated service of the veterans during World War II,” the embassy said in a statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday.

US Senate Bill No. 1555 was passed unanimously by the US Congress after the House of Representatives approved it on November 30.

The Senate version of the measure was sponsored by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Dean Heller (R-NV), Harry Reid (D-NV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Brian Schatz (D-HI) while the House version (H.R.2737) was sponsored by Representatives Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Joseph Heck (R-NV), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Mark Takai (D-HI), and Jackie Speier (D-CA), the embassy said.

Both bills were introduced on June 11, 2015.

“This gold medal is a fitting tribute to our veterans’ sacrifice, courage, and strength. From ordinary civilians to defenders of free nations, these men and women deserve our deepest respect and gratitude,” Minister Patrick Chuasoto, chargĂ© d’affaires ad interim of the embassy, said in the statement.

The embassy called the Congressional gold medal “the highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions in the United States, collectively, to 260,000 Filipino veterans in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II.”

http://interaksyon.com/article/135318/obama-signs-congressional-gold-medal-act-for-pinoy-wwii-vets

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