HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

44

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Proclaiming the month of June 2008 as Filipino veterans appreciation month.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, on July 26, 1941, in anticipation of war with Japan, President Roosevelt issued an Executive Order calling for over 200,000 Filipino soldiers to serve in the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE); and

 

     WHEREAS, ten hours after Pearl Harbor was attacked, the United States military bases in the Philippines were also attacked, plunging the Philippines into war; and

 

     WHEREAS, on March 27, 1942, Congress passed Title 8 of the Second War Powers Act, which provided that noncitizens who served in active duty in the United States Armed Forces during World War II would be granted United States citizenship; and

 

     WHEREAS, even after United States forces retreated from the Philippines in April of 1942, Filipinos continued to fight courageously against the invading Japanese forces, forming guerilla units to conduct operations, collect intelligence, and help prepare for the return of American forces; and

 

     WHEREAS, after the war, the New Philippine Scouts were formed to help reestablish United States authority in the Pacific, which resulted in thousands more Filipino soldiers called to serve the United States; and

 

     WHEREAS, throughout the war, Filipino soldiers demonstrated the highest levels of bravery and courage, willing to pay the ultimate price to support the United States and restore liberty and peace to the Philippines; now, therefore,


     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature proclaims the month of June 2008 as Filipino Veterans Appreciation Month.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Filipino Veterans