by Justice for Filipino Amertican Veterans
Wednesday, Apr. 30, 2008 at 5:33 AM
jfav_causa@yahoo.com 213-241-0906 337 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026
HILLARY CLINTON released the following statement April 10 in honor of the men and women who bravely fought for the freedoms of the United States and the Philippines 66 years ago, when Japanese troops invaded the Philippines. This invasion led to the Fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942.
"It is my honor to have the opportunity to salute these brave Filipino men and women who gallantly gave their lives for the freedom that citizens of both the Philippines and the United States now enjoy. And to those who have survived, I pledge that America will not forget the hardships that you and your family endured from that war."
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Clinton honors Fil-Am vets in 66th Anniversary of ‘Fall of Bataan’
April 14, 2008
Los Angeles --HILLARY CLINTON released the following statement April 10 in honor of the men and women who bravely fought for the freedoms of the United States and the Philippines 66 years ago, when Japanese troops invaded the Philippines. This invasion led to the Fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942.
"It is my honor to have the opportunity to salute these brave Filipino men and women who gallantly gave their lives for the freedom that citizens of both the Philippines and the United States now enjoy. And to those who have survived, I pledge that America will not forget the hardships that you and your family endured from that war."
In 1942, President Roosevelt issued an order conscripting Filipino soldiers into the United States Armed Forces. Over 250,000 Filipino soldiers fought courageously along-side American soldiers throughout the war, including the infamous Bataan Death March in which untold numbers of Americans and Filipinos soldiers suffered and died under brutal conditions. After World War II ended in 1946, the U.S. Congress rescinded benefits that the Filipino soldiers were entitled to receive as U.S. veterans. Since then, these veterans have been fighting for these benefits which were unjustly revoked by the 1946 Rescission Act.
"I have been a strong supporter of the Filipino Veterans of World War II who have been denied benefits as a result of the 1946 Rescission Act. I am a cosponsor of the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill, sponsored by Senator Inouye, which would again make Filipino Veterans eligible for federal veteran benefits.
As President, I look forward to working with Senator Inouye and Congressman Filner to get this important legislation passed. This is a matter of restoring the honor and dignity of these courageous veterans and I will continue to support and fight for this legislation."
