Go back to PRESS RELEASES

Contact: Diane Tanaka
310-222-5709 office

AMERICAN AIRLINES EMPLOYEES CELEBRATE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH WITH NISEI WWII VETERANS

American Airlines’ Asian Pacific Islander Employee Resource Group celebrated APA Heritage Month with Go For Broke Educational Foundation at LAX on May 21. From left to right: American Airlines employees John Contreras, Matt Ceballos, Rick Ingram, Cynthia Schwenke, and Go For Broke Educational Foundation Development Manager, Martie Quan.

Torrance, Calif. (June 4, 2003) - In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the Go for Broke Educational Foundation spent the day with American Airlines employees to educate them on the contributions of the Japanese American World War II veterans. On May 21, through the coordination of American Airlines’ Asian/Pacific Islander Employee Resource Group, a day-long celebration was held at LAX that included entertainment by Halau Hula Keali’i O’Nalani and plate lunches by Kings Hawaiian’s newest restaurant, The Local Place. Proceeds of $1,000 was raised from the event and donated to the Go For Broke Educational Foundation.

The Go for Broke Educational Foundation was selected by American Airlines’ Asian Pacific Islander Employee Resource Group as its charity for 2003. “We appreciate all the efforts of American Airlines Asian Pacific Islander Employee Resource Group, especially our liaisons Cynthia Schwenke and Leilani Kimmel Dagostino who understand the importance of our mission,” said Christine Sato-Yamazaki. “Their generous efforts enable the Educational Foundation’s programs to continue.”

Special informational sessions for American Airlines employees were conducted by Educational Foundation staff to provide background on each of the military units along with an opportunity to talk with veterans Tets Asato (442nd RCT) of Torrance and Ken Akune (Military Intelligence Service) of Gardena. Many of the employees were not familiar with the contributions of the 100/442 and MIS, thus a better understanding of the struggles and sacrifices made by the veterans were understood and appreciated.

The Go For Broke Educational Foundation institutes educational programs focused on the heroism and history of the Japanese American soldiers of World War II, as well as the forced evacuation and incarceration of Japanese American and civil liberties issues raised by those events. Currently the Educational Foundation’s programs include An American Story Teacher Training Program, Hanashi Oral History Program, and select media projects. For more information, go to www.GoForBroke.org.

In 1989 Japanese American World War II veterans established the 100th/442nd/MIS WWII Memorial Foundation to build the Go For Broke Monument as an eternal tribute to the heroics of the segregated Japanese Americanunits: 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, MIS (Military Intelligence Service) and the many other men and women who served overseas during World War II. The Monument is located in downtown Los Angeles at Temple and Alameda streets.

Go back to PRESS RELEASES