PH Consulate General in Chicago Honors Filipino WWII Veterans
Consul General to Chicago Gina A. Jamoralin delivers her welcome remarks during the 77th Commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan held at the Consulate General. (Arnel Santiago photo)
CHICAGO 03 May 2019 – The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago, together with members of the Filipino-American community in Chicagoland, U.S. officials, and surviving World War II veterans commemorated the 77th Araw ng Kagitingan by honoring Filipino World War II Veterans at the Consulate General on 09 April 2019.
“Today we recall the heroism of the Filipino and American troops during the World War II,” Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin said in a program, which started with a wreath laying ceremony at the Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Bridge.
She thanked the U.S. Congress for passing the World War II Filipino Veterans U.S. Congressional Gold Medal Bill in 2016, which gives recognition to the valor and courage of Filipino soldiers during World War II. She said that 22 surviving Filipino Veterans and their next of kin receive the medals in the previous year’s Araw ng Kagitingan ceremony held at the Philippine Consulate General.
Assistant Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard Major General Michael Zebonia acknowledged the contributions of the Filipino WWII veterans as an important part of American military history and must honor the sacrifices of the soldiers who defended Bataan in 1942. “we must ensure that these sacrifices were not for nothing, the bond between our two countries must continue to grow stronger,” he added.
Illinois Scott Air Force Base Commander, Brigadier General Jimmy R. Canlas, expressed appreciation for participating in the event that offered the perfect opportunity to come together and pay tribute to the courageous veterans and survivors of the infamous Bataan “Death March”.
In his moving speech, 90 year old World War II veteran and wars in Korea and Vietnam Dominador Ramirez said, “Bataan has fallen, but the spirit that made it stand- as a beacon to all liberty loving people-cannot fall!”
The program also showed a video clip featuring the trip in February this year to Corregidor, Subic and Manila of retired US Marines under the Consulate General’s “ World War II Sentimental Journey Tour”, where they retraced their steps in Subic when they were serving in the US Marines as first responders at the time Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991.
A proclamation from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel declaring 09 April 2019 as Bataan Day in Illinois and Chicago and a message-greeting from U.S. House of Representative Jan Schakowsky, 9th District of Illinois were read during the program.
The Consulate General collaborated with partner organizations such as Maywood Bataan Day Organization, Chicago Nightingales, Zamboanga Del Norte Association of Illinois and Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Chicago for the event. END
(Left-right) Consul Ryan Francis D. Gener, Ms. Sol Anderson, Ms. Jelly Carandang, Commander Clemente Rodriguez of the American Legion, Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin, Dominador Ramirez, WW II Filipino Veterans, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Elaine Lehman. Rose San Diego,Mr. Jose Arandio during the Wreath laying ceremony at the Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Bridge in Chicago. (Arnel Santiago photo)
(Left-right) Consul Ryan Francis Gener, Consul General to Chicago Gina A. Jamoralin, WW II Filipino Veteran Dominador Ramirez, Major General Michael Zerbonia, and Brigadier General Jimmy Canlas (Arnel Santiago photo)
Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin received a framed picture of the participants of “ WWII Sentimental Journey” from Retired US Marines Sean McDonald and Ted Zcewczyk. (Arnel Santiago photo)
For more information, visit www.chicagopcg.dfa.gov.ph, www.chicagopcg.com or https://www.facebook.com/PHinChicago/.