NATIONAL VETERAN MEETING TO TAKE PLACE JUNE 3-5
World War II Japanese American veterans' organizations from throughout the United States will convene at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo June 3-5, 2010 for the 3rd National Veterans Network (NVN) meeting, an invite-only event. The meeting will be hosted by Go For Broke National Education Center.
This year's meeting will continue to address the effort to award the 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team, including the inclusion of the MIS, with the Congressional Gold Medal. Planning will be discussed should S.1055 pass or next-steps action plan should S.1055 fail. Moreover, a significant discussion will take place that focuses on the Nisei veterans' legacy. Dr. Mitch Maki, Dean of the College of Health and Human Services, California State University Dominguez Hills will facilitate this meaningful discourse on what "Nisei legacy" means to the participating members. Discussion will center on three key questions: What are the elements of Nisei legacy? How should the legacy be preserved and bequeathed? And finally, to whom should this legacy go?
In addition, participating organizations will be asked to share and present their own efforts or plans that address the Nisei legacy. Through this discussion, the NVN can collectively and its member organizations individually can address this critical topic locally and nationally.
First assembled in 2008, the purpose of the National Veterans Network is "to preserve and promote the Japanese American veterans' legacy through a national network of information sharing, communication and education." Affiliation does not diminish or duplicate the work of any participating organization and serves as a network of support for respective events and activities.
The National Veterans Network includes: 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Club, Honolulu; 100th Infantry Battalion Legacy Organization, Honolulu; 100th/442nd Veterans Association, Los Angeles; 442nd Sons & Daughters, Honolulu; 442nd Veterans Club, Honolulu; Go For Broke Association, Honolulu; Go For Broke National Education Center, Los Angeles; Houston JACL, Houston; Japanese American Veterans Association, Washington, D.C.; Japanese American Citizens League, Washington, D.C.; MIS Veterans Club of Hawaii, Honolulu; MIS Club of Southern California, Los Angeles, National Japanese American Historical Society, San Francisco; National Japanese American Memorial Foundation, Washington, D.C.; National Japanese American Veterans Council, Washington, D.C.; Nisei Veterans Committee, Seattle; Nisei Veterans Coordinating Council, Los Angeles; Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, Maui, HI; Pinedale Assembly Center Memorial Committee, Fresno, CA; Oregon Nikkei Endowment, Portland; Friends and Family of Nisei Veterans, Gilroy, CA; Chicago Nisei Post 1183, The American Legion, Chicago and Oregon Nisei Veterans, Portland.
