JAVA Members & Friends,

As we enter November, many of us naturally start thinking about service, sacrifice, and gratitude. Veterans Day and Thanksgiving arrive just days apart. Together, they remind us that the freedoms we enjoy did not simply appear. They were protected by men and women who raised their right hand and chose to serve. 

During World War II, Nisei soldiers put on the uniform of a nation that often doubted them. They did not know how history would remember them. They only knew they had to do what they believed was right, and they wanted to prove that they were fully American. 

JAVA wants to make sure their story isn’t lost. This is an American story, not only a Japanese American one. Our veterans, their families, and their communities helped shape a better United States. Their example continues to guide today’s Japanese American and AANHPI service members. 

I want to thank each of you personally. To our veteran members, thank you for your service and for the example you continue to set. To spouses, children, and grandchildren, thank you for standing beside your loved ones and for sharing their stories with us. To our donors, volunteers, and partners, thank you for the time, resources, and encouragement you give so that JAVA can continue its mission. 

This year, JAVA has continued to honor the past while investing in the future. Through our educational programs, public events, and outreach, we are helping more people across the country learn about the Nisei story and the larger Japanese American role in our nation’s defense. We are also working to give younger generations chances to connect with this history and to discover their own way to serve. 

As we look ahead, our mission is simple. The story must not end with us. Each of us is a caretaker of this legacy. The photos in our albums, the documents in our files, and the memories in our hearts are all part of something bigger. If we hold on to them alone, they may fade away. If we share them, they can inspire others for a long time to come. 

So, I have a small request. Please introduce JAVA to one new person. Please share our website, a newsletter article, or a recording of one of our programs. Tell them why this history matters to you. That simple act helps carry the story forward. 

I wish you a meaningful Veterans Day and a Thanksgiving filled with peace, gratitude, and connection. Thank you for walking alongside JAVA in this vital work. Together, we are helping ensure that the courage, loyalty, and achievements of our veterans will be remembered and honored for generations to come. 

Warm regards,
Howard High