AARP to Buy 1,000 Filipino American Vets Congressional Gold Medal Replicas

AARP has announced it is purchasing 1,000 replicas of the Congressional Gold Medal for Filipino American veterans during World War II.

One of the highest civilian honors in the United States, the medal was awarded to recognize the bravery of Filipino soldiers who answered President Roosevelt’s call for service.

260,000 Filipino soldiers and guerillas answered that call in the Philippines, and today just 18,000 remain alive.

A single medal was presented last week during a ceremony at the capitol. That medal will be given to the Smithsonian Museum for display.

A fund drive is underway so that each of the surviving soldiers or their families can be presented with replicas which cost several hundred dollars each.

“AARP is proud to support the efforts to recognize and celebrate Filipino and Filipino American World War II veterans,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Leadership, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience Strategy. “We are so pleased to join with the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project and this nation in the shared goal of ensuring that future generations of Americans understand these vets’ incredible sacrifices.”

FilVetREP is urging each surviving veteran or their descendants to register so they can receive recognition.

Information about donating to the project can be found here.
 
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