By Shirley Ng, AsAmNews Staff Writer
Chinatown celebrated Veterans Day with a parade down Mott Street and a ceremony at Lt. Kimlau Square. Sunday’s parade is the first Veterans Day parade since the passage of the Congressional Gold Medal for Chinese American World War II veterans.
Special guests in this year’s ceremony were the mid-shipman of the Annapolis Naval Academy. Community leaders such as, Assembly woman Yuh-Line-Niou, NYC Council Members Margaret Chin of Manhattan District 1 and Peter Koo of Queens District 20 also attended the ceremony.
Commander Tony Chuy of Lt. Kimlau Post 1291 greeted the public, “Today we honor our veterans, who selflessly placed their lives on the line for our freedom. These men and women were ordinary people until they heard the call of duty and they answered. They left their families their home, their lives not for recognition or fame or honor, we bestow upon them today. They fought to protect our country to maintain the way of life. “
The 100th anniversary of the American Legion Auxiliary was also celebrated with a special banner created by the women of Lt. Kimlau Post 1291. The Auxiliary is primarily a membership of wives and female relatives of veterans, but for the first time beginning last September, male spouses of a veteran may now join.
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This unique Post in Chinatown that was established in 1946 has boasted the largest membership of Chinese American veterans on the East coast for quite some time. According to Judge Randall Eng, the Post Judge Advocate Consultant, there are currently over 600 members.
“Chinese Americans are a patient group, we have to be a patient group because we had to endure a lot in the course of our history in the United States. We are grateful that the Congressional Gold Medal has been awarded to Chinese American veterans of WWII- that number over 22,000. We prevailed and we received the recognition that we justly deserved, “ Judge Eng said during the ceremony.
The late Chairman Peter Woo was “very proud” of the successful lobbying efforts for the Congressional Gold Medal, according to Judge Eng. World War II veteran Chairman Woo died suddenly, but peacefully in his sleep before Thanksgiving last year and a month before President Trump signed the Congressional Gold Medal bill into law.
Ceremonies for the Congressional Gold Medal for the Chinese American WWII veterans will be held in Washington DC and New York. Additional cities will be added, but dates are yet to be determined.
Fundraising is already underway by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance to provide each Chinese American WWII veteran or next of kin with a free replica of the medal.
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