Filipino-American WWII Veterans Honored with Congressional Gold Medal in Los Angeles
Consul General to Los Angeles Adelio Angelito S. Cruz (seated, fourth from left) and National Chairman of FilVetRep Retired Major General Antonio M. Taguba (seated, fifth from left) with the Congressional Gold Medal (CGM) awardees and their families and friends during the awarding ceremony held at the Consulate General on 01 February 2020. (Los Angeles PCG photo)
LOS ANGELES 14 February 2020 — Seven Filipino-American World War II Veterans were awarded their personal replicas of the Congressional Gold Medal (CGM) at a ceremony held at the Consulate General’s Community Hall on 01 February 2020. The event was organized in partnership with the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetRep), led by its National Chairman and U.S. Army Major General (ret.) Antonio “Tony” M. Taguba.
The recipients, who constituted the 74th batch to be awarded the replicas of CGM, were Mr. Rogaciano Dagdag, Mr. Julian Dologuin, Mr. Anthony Floresca, Mr. Marcelino Gawat, Mr. Manuel Penas, Mr. Juanito Piamonte, and Mr. Conrado Castro, who was represented by his son, Mr. Henry Miller.
In his remarks, Consul General to Los Angeles Adelio Angelito S. Cruz conveyed his sincere appreciation to Major General Taguba for giving the Consulate General an opportunity to partner with FilVetRep in this endeavor to express to the Filipino WWII veterans the Philippines’ profound gratitude for their sacrifices during the darkest years of our nation’s history.
The Consul General also commended FilVetRep for their continuing efforts in promoting the welfare of Filipino veterans and paying tribute to their heroic deeds.
For his part, Major General Taguba said that the presentation of CGM awards to Filipino WWII veterans is an opportunity to preserve the veterans’ legacy and raise awareness on their lifelong quest for recognition. During the program, Major General Taguba also showed a video presentation of FilVetRep’s programs, which include among others public education activities and fundraising efforts to purchase bronze replicas of the CGM for eligible veterans.
It may be recalled that the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015, enacted as Public Law 114-265, awards a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Filipino, Filipino-American, and American veterans, in recognition of their wartime service in defense of the Philippines and the United States from 08 December 1941 to 31 December 1946. The National Awards Ceremony formally recognizing the Filipino veterans was held on 25 October 2017 at the Emancipation Hall in Washington D.C.
FilVetRep, as a proponent of the CGM legislation and the official liaison to the U.S. Mint, which handles the design and minting of the CGM, determines the number of CGM replicas to be purchased from the U.S. Mint, for rostering purposes, budget programming and vetting of the prospective awardees’ eligibility. It is a nonpartisan, community-based, all-volunteer national initiative whose mission is to raise awareness through academic research, public information, and obtain national recognition of Filipino, Filipino-American and American WWII veterans across the United States and the Philippines. END
Consul General to Los Angeles Adelio Angelito S. Cruz conveys his sincere appreciation to Major General Antonio “Tony” M. Taguba for giving the Consulate General an opportunity to partner with FilVetRep. (Los Angeles PCG photo)
The Congressional Gold Medal depicts a Filipino scout, a Filipino infantry regiment officer, a guerilla soldier with the foreground of an infantryman on guard, symbolizing the soldiers’ fierce determination. The medal’s reverse displays both the American and Filipino WWII-era flags. (Los Angeles PCG photo)
Major General Antonio “Tony” M. Taguba receives a Certificate of Appreciation from Consul General to Los Angeles Adelio Angelito S. Cruz. (Los Angeles PCG photo)
Major General Antonio “Tony” M. Taguba and Consul General to Los Angeles Adelio Angelito S. Cruz award bronze replicas of the Congressional Gold Medal to Mr. Rogaciano Dagdag, Mr. Julian Dologuin and Mr. Anthony Floresca. (Los Angeles PCG photo)
Major General Antonio “Tony” M. Taguba and Consul General to Los Angeles Adelio Angelito S. Cruz award bronze replicas of the Congressional Gold Medal to Mr. Marcelino Gawat, Mr. Manuel Penas and Mr. Juanito Piamonte. (Los Angeles PCG photo)
Mr. Henry Miller receives the award on behalf of his father, Mr. Conrado Castro. (Los Angeles PCG photo)
Congressional Gold Medal awardee Mr. Piamonte with Consul General to Los Angeles Adelio Angelito S. Cruz, Vice Consul Joan Macrise Corrado and some personnel of the Consulate General in Los Angeles. (Los Angeles PCG photo)
For more information, visit https://www.philippineconsulatela.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinLA/.