Summary

Filipino Veterans to receive Congressional Gold Medal for their service during WWII

Story

Surrounded by community members and Filipino veterans, Councilmembers proclaimed October Filipino American History Month in King County. The Council also honored Filipino WWII Veterans who will be recognized by Congress later this month.

This year’s recognition by the Metropolitan King County Council of Filipino History Month has special meaning for many families throughout the County. The recognition presented by the Council today not only celebrates the rich tradition and heritage of King County’s Filipino community, it also recognizes the bravery and sacrifice of the Filipino soldiers who fought in World War II in support of the United States and to liberate their island nation.

“This year we recognize and celebrate history and heritage, as well as honor and sacrifice,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett, the sponsor of the proclamation. “The Filipino community has been active throughout King County for over one hundred years, so we recognize their impact on the region. This year we celebrate those WWII soldiers who are finally being honored for their service to a country that didn’t recognize their sacrifice for over a half century.”

On October 25, the members of the Philippines Commonwealth Army and the Special Philippines Scouts who joined the Allied Forces to fight in the Pacific as part of the United States Armed Forces of the Far East, will be recognized for their service. Those soldiers, representing the more than 280,000 Filipino citizens drafted by President Franklin Roosevelt to fight in the war, will receive the Congressional Gold Medal for their service in the Pacific along with those Filipinos who served in the US Armed Forces.

The congressional ceremony is the culmination of an effort that has spanned over seven decades to have the service of the Filipino veterans recognized by the United States.

“We secured the Congressional Gold Medal to honor our veterans and demonstrate our deepest gratitude for their supreme sacrifice,” said FilVetREP Chairman Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret). “We will ensure that our national celebration of this historic achievement is one that treats our veterans with the utmost dignity and respect. We are, therefore, calling on all our supporters to make this important event happen. It’s for our veterans and they deserve to have a memorable event.”

“I'm real proud of my father and the other veterans of WWII and proud to be his daughter,” said Annie Galarosa. Her 100-year old Father, Escolastico Galarosa, is one of the 12 Filipino veterans living in King County who will be recognized by Congress. “I'm grateful that the hurtful layers of our historical invisibility are slowly being peeled away and our contributions to American culture and history finally being recognized.”

Along with recognizing the bravery and sacrifice of these veterans, the recognition highlights the history of the Filipino residents on this continent, which predates the arrival of the colonists in what has become the United States by close to 50 years.

Over the last five centuries, Filipinos have become a vital part of the American history, especially on the West Coast and in the Pacific Northwest. In Washington, Filipinos have worked in a number of industries, but were prominent in the state’s maritime, service, agricultural and fishing industries.

Filipino organizers played a vital role in the desegregation of the unions that represented those who worked in the fishing industry including the Alaska Cannery Workers Union, International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

WHEREAS, Filipinos have lived in the United States for over 425 years and have contributed to the cultural, economic, social and political life of the United States and King County; and

WHEREAS, King County is home to cultural and historical institutions important to the Filipino community, locally, nationally, and internationally, including the Alaska Cannery Workers Union, Region 37; Inlandboatman’s Union; the Filipino American National Historical Society’s national office; the Filipino Community Center of Seattle; and the Carlos Bulosan Historical Museum; and

WHEREAS, on October 25th, a delegation from King County and Washington State will travel to Washington, DC, to participate in the national celebration honoring Filipino World War II veterans, whose service and sacrifice have been finally recognized by the United States with the passage last year of the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015, now enshrined as Public Law 114-265; and

WHEREAS, the Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest civilian awards bestowed by the United States and represents a public expression of the US Congress’ gratitude on behalf of the nation for the distinguished contributions of 260,000 Filipino soldiers and guerrillas during World War II in the Philippines; and

WHEREAS, there are 12 living veterans from this region who will be receiving the Congressional Gold Medal—Florentino Ceniza, Pedro A. Conejos, Presiliao Credo, Sergio Evalle, Escolastico Galarosa, Gregorio Garcia, Rafael Lamarca, Bienvenido Mendoza, Cesar Mijares, Julian Nicolas, Joe Taton, Sr., and Rodolfo Balao—as well as family members of many deceased veterans in the region; and

WHEREAS, the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal takes place during Filipino American History Month; and

WHEREAS, Filipino American History Month provides an opportunity to promote the study of Filipino American history and culture and recognizes the contributions made by Filipino Americans;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, proclaim October 2017 as