#DENNIS FRANZ MEMORIAL DAY SPEECH FULL#
On July 4th, 1944 in Castellana, Italy, PFC Nakamura gave what President Lincoln called his "last full measure of devotion" on the battlefield, succumbing to German sniper fire, but not before destroying a machine gun nest and suppressing another, long enough for his platoon to reach cover. Despite this, thousands of American men of Japanese descent volunteered to serve their country in WWII and formed the all-Nisei 100th Infantry Battalion, which later became the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.Īmong their many heroes, PFC William Nakamura was a student at the University of Washington when Executive Order 9066 was signed, but he still volunteered to join the ranks of the 442nd. On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 which authorized the Secretary of War to designate certain areas as military zones which allowed the internment of more than 110,000 Japanese Americans. " Unfortunately, we have not always lived up to these truths.Īmericans of Japanese descent faced internment, suspicion, and discrimination after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Our Declaration of Independence states that, "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
#DENNIS FRANZ MEMORIAL DAY SPEECH FREE#
As you know, Memorial Day was officially observed for the first time on May 30, 1868, and today we remember the over 1.2 million American heroes who gave up their lives to keep us free to defend our values and protect our way of life. Not a day to remember battles or wars, but a day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation. To some people, Memorial Day is just another holiday, or to others it is the unofficial start of the summer season, but to me, Memorial Day is personal, it is a day of remembrance. Today at events like the one here at Lake View Cemetery, as well as cemeteries across the nation, communities come together to remember and to reflect on the service and sacrifice of those who paid the true cost of freedom - our fallen comrades. This is my first opportunity to speak at a Nisei event, and I am honored and humbled to be with you. Honored guests, local government officials, and especially the friends and families of our Nisei Veterans, I would like to thank you for inviting me to join you today as we remember and honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.
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