Las Vegas, Nev. – Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project and the Filipino Veterans Group of Las Vegas in presenting Congressional Gold Medals to Filipino WWII veterans from Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and California. Filipino World War II veterans were officially recognized for their service in a 2017 Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony in Washington D.C., however, some of the veterans were unable to travel due to health issues.
“The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honor that Congress can bestow, and no group is more deserving than the Filipino veterans of World War II. Undeterred by the attacks or the danger they faced, over a quarter million Filipinos and Filipino-Americans fought for the Allied Forces in World War II. Our nation is forever indebted to them for their bravery and sacrifice.”
Background
After WWII, Filipino veterans were granted citizenship in recognition of their service to the United States. Many of their children were not. Due to backlogs in the U.S. immigration system, thousands of these veterans have been waiting decades to be reunited with family members.
Senator Cortez Masto is a cosponsor of the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act, which would expedite the visa process for the immediate relatives of Filipino World War II veterans.