Japanese American Veterans Associatione-Advocate

Japanese American Veterans  Associatione-Advocate

JAVA President Gerald Yamada, 2023 Day of Affirmation, National World War II Memorial, Washington, DC. Photo: Nicole Yamada.

JAVA's Fourth Annual Day of  Affirmation!

It was a weekend of commemoration and celebration for the Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) as they held the fourth annual Day of Affirmation Wreath Ceremony at the National World War II Memorial on Saturday, July 15th, and a luncheon the next day at The Army and Navy Club in Washington, DC.

With overcast skies offering some relief from the noonday sun, JAVA members and friends along with curious tourists listened to President Gerald Yamada’s remarks which paid tribute to the returning Nisei World War II soldiers whom President Harry S. Truman reviewed on the White House Ellipse on July 15, 1946. President Truman’s salute on that historic afternoon to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team: “You fought not only the enemy, but you fought prejudice – and you have won…,” affirms that all the Japanese American soldiers, men, and women, who served during World War II are America’s heroes and removes any doubt that they are loyal citizens of the United States of America and was the source of JAVA’s now annual tradition.

As onlookers paused to consider Yamada’s words which called to mind the legacy created by the thirty-three thousand Japanese American men and women who served in World War II, the military escort and wreath bearers who represented three generations of the family of local centenarian, former JAVA Executive Director and RCT 442nd veteran Terry Shima, processed with the wreath to the Price of Freedom Wall. After a moment of silence in front of the Wall, the sound of Taps brought a somber close to the ceremony.

Three generations of the Shima family during the playing of Taps, L-R: Donovan Trexler, Kelly Shima, Eileen Shima Roulier, Eric Shima, and Mike Shima, Price of Freedom Wall, National World War II Memorial, Washington, DC. Photo: Nicole Yamada.

Taps, Bugler Staff Sergeant Craig Basarich, U.S. Army Band, JAVA Day of Affirmation Wreath Ceremony, July 15, 2023. National WWII Memorial, Washington, DC. Photo: Nicole Yamada.

DAY OF AFFIRMATION July 15, 2023 Opening Remarks (as prepared) National World War II Memorial, Washington, DC Gerald Yamada, JAVA President

JAVA Day of Affirmation Wreath, Price of Freedom Wall, National WWII Memorial, Washington, DC, July 15, 2023. Photo: Nicole Yamada.

The Japanese American Veterans Association is proud to sponsor this Day of Affirmation Ceremony to honor the legacy forged by the valor and patriotism of the Japanese American men and women who served during World War II. They put themselves in harm’s way to prove that they are proud and loyal Americans. Faced with overt prejudice and hostile distrust of their ethnicity, they kept their faith in the American dream of equal opportunity. They were willing to show that they deserved to have the same treatment and rights afforded to all Americans.

Thirty-three thousand Japanese Americans served. We honor them today and every day as America’s heroes. We especially remember the almost 800 Japanese American soldiers who died during the war represented by 8 of the gold stars on this Memorial’s Price of Freedom Wall.

On this date and hour 77 years ago, President Harry S. Truman saluted the returning segregated all Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team, on the White House Ellipse, by stating that “You fought not only the enemy, but you fought prejudice – and you have won. Keep up that fight, and we will continue to win – to make this great Republic stand for just what the Constitution says it stands for: the welfare of all the people all the time.”

The President’s salute affirmed that Japanese Americans are loyal citizens of the United States of America and are entitled to equal protection under the law.

The military escort and wreath bearers for today’s Day of Affirmation Ceremony represent three generations of Terry Shima’s family. Terry Shima is a veteran of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and is JAVA’s former Executive Director. He celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year. Due to the extreme heat, Terry is understandably not able to join us today. We wish him well.

The military escort is Terry’s son Mike Shima, who is assisted by his son Eric Shima. Following his father’s legacy of service, Mike served in the U.S. Army.

One of the wreath bearers is Eileen Shima Roulier, who is Terry’s daughter. The other wreath bearer is Mike Shima’s daughter, Kelly Shima, who is assisted by her son, Donovan Trexler.

Let’s have the wreath presentation proceed to the Price of Freedom Wall.

In honor of those who served, I ask you to face the Freedom Wall, bow your heads, and observe a moment of silence.

MOMENT OF SILENCE

For all those who served, thank you for your service.

SOUNDING OF TAPS

That concludes our program. Thank you for joining us to celebrate the fourth annual Day of Affirmation.

A moment of silence. Three generations of the Shima family, L-R: Donovan Trexler, Kelly Shima, Eileen Shima Roulier, Eric Shima, and Mike Shima, Price of Freedom Wall, National World War II Memorial, Washington, DC. Photo: Nicole Yamada.

Day of Affirmation Luncheon
The Army and Navy Club

Day of Affirmation Luncheon, July 16, 2023 at The Army and Navy Club, Washington, DC. L-R: Jim McCallum. Stan Fujii, Chris DeRosa, Richard Banh (hidden from view), Rod Azama, Michelle Amano, Linda Adams, Janice Faden (hidden from view), Eileen Roulier, and Rich Roulier. Photo: Nicole Yamada.

Day of Affirmation Luncheon, July 16, 2023 at The Army and Navy Club, Washington, DC. L-R: Mindy Kotler, Bob Vokac, Howard Fireman, Karen Fireman, May Huang, Antoinette Phelps, Mark Nakagawa, Carol Nakagawa, and Mark Koiwai. Photo: Nicole Yamada.

Day of Affirmation Luncheon, July 16, 2023, at The Army and Navy Club, Washington, DC. L-R: Nancy Yamada, Neet Ford, Michael Katahara, Allison Grove, Landon Grove, Gerald Yamada, Loree Katahara, Micah Katahara, and Howard High. Photo: Nicole Yamada.

Commemoration activities also included a luncheon at The Army and Navy Club downtown. In addition to a welcome address by Gerald Yamada, the program featured guest speaker, Landon Grove, Director and Curator of the Ritchie History Museum, who shared with the group a fascinating history of Camp Ritchie. Although Camp Ritchie, located in Cascade, Maryland, had its start as a training base for the Maryland National Guard, during World War II, the Army took it over and U.S. soldiers, the majority of whom were immigrants, were trained in German, Italian, and French to decode enemy communications and interrogate prisoners of war captured in Europe. One class of approximately 500 Nisei men and women also utilized their language skills and trained at Camp Ritchie. According to Mr. Grove, Camp Ritchie was “perhaps the most important installation during WWII at producing soldiers trained in intelligence gathering.” In the late 1990s, the Camp was closed, abandoned, and fell into disrepair. It is now in private hands and is being developed with historic preservation as a priority.

Ritchie History Museum Director and Curator, Landon Grove presents history of Camp Ritchie, Cascade, MD. Day of Affirmation Luncheon, July 16, 2023. Photo: Nicole Yamada.

One of the Ritchie History Museum’s projects that Mr. Grove spearheads is fundraising for the eventual restoration of a previously boarded up and neglected mural discovered in a Camp Ritchie building. The mural is believed to have been painted by “Ritchie Boy” Nobuo Kitagaki who after World War II became an established artist. The large mural features four Nisei ceramic artists at work and although it is unsigned, it bears striking similarities to Kitagaki’s work, particularly a sketch by him pictured in a 1945 Fort Snelling art contest book, Solider Art. Considering that many of Camp Ritchie’s handsome stone buildings were vandalized by graffiti and.

also suffered water damage, amazingly, the mural, other than areas of chipping paint, survived intact. Grove told listeners that when the mural is restored, it will be displayed in a building that will house the works of artisans from the local area. Before wrapping up his talk, Mr. Grove invited all to make the 90-mile drive from DC to Cascade, MD, and visit the museum.

After the presentation concluded, Gerald Yamada presented Mr. Grove with a JAVA coin and a framed image of USPS’ Go For Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII stamp. Appreciative applause from all in attendance for Mr. Grove and his work at the Ritchie History Museum followed.

(Click here to watch Landon Grove’s presentation on Camp Ritchie at the Army and Navy Club on Sunday, July 16, 2023. To learn more about the Ritchie History Museum, please visit the website: https://www.ritchiemuseum.org).

Although it was not announced ahead of time, Gerald Yamada, on behalf of the JAVA Executive Council presented a JAVA Commemorative Coin and the JAVA Book Clock Award to Neet Ford for her five years of service and commitment to JAVA. In addition to thanking her, he expressed his appreciation for her wholehearted enthusiasm and dedication to JAVA. The Award read:

The Japanese Veterans Association
Presented to
Anita “Neet” Ford
For Exemplary and Dedicated Service
as JAVA Executive Director
With Our Heartfelt Appreciation
2018-2023
June 30, 2023

Ritchie History Museum Director and Curator, Landon Grove presents history of Camp Ritchie, Cascade, MD. Day of Affirmation Luncheon, July 16, 2023. Photo: Nicole Yamada.

After stating that she had a sneaking suspicion (aroused during an innocent conversation with a JAVA member) that she might be called to the podium, Neet expressed she was honored by the award and shared that her work for JAVA was a wonderful combination of being both “meaningful and fun” and that she was very grateful for the many ways JAVA has enriched her life – the rich and abundant friendships, the opportunity to work alongside so many talented and thoughtful individuals, and the powerful and inspirational Nisei WWII story.

Following announcements, JAVA Vice President Howard High brought the Day of Affirmation luncheon to a formal close, yet JAVA members and friends lingered for some time afterward at The Army and Navy Club – a sure sign that everyone enjoyed the lunch, the talk, and the chance to be with each other.

JAVA President Gerald Yamada presents Neet Ford with the JAVA Book Clock Award, Day of Affirmation Luncheon, July 16, 2023. Photo: Nicole Yamada.

Stan Fujii and Chris DeRosa. Day of Affirmation Luncheon, July 16, 2023. Photo: Nicole Yamada.

L-R: Linda Adams, Nancy Yamada, and Janice Faden. Day of Affirmation Luncheon, July 16, 2023. Photo: Nicole Yamada.