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Home : Media : Speeches / Testimony

# Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) WWII Commemoration

By Video remarks as delivered:  ADM. HARRY B. HARRIS, JR.U.S. Pacific Command Public Affairs Office

CALIFORNIA - Goodevening, JACL.  It’s an honor to havebeen asked to speak to you on this commemoration marking the end of World WarII.  It’s with deep regret that I’m notable to share my thoughts with you in person. But I send this message to let you know how important groups like the JapaneseAmerican Citizens League are to me – both as a citizen and one who wears theuniform of our great nation. 
 
Ourpast serves to inform and shape our future, so it’s no exaggeration when I saythat World War II is the most important event in my life.  My Japanese mother survived the devastation of wartime Japan and metand married my father, an American Sailor who served in Japan in the late 1940sand the 1950s.  My father also had four brotherswho fought in the war, so I grew up hearing their stories about the exploits ofgreatest generation from the moment I could form a memory.  
 
All of them are gone now, but I can stillhear their stories of duty, sacrifice and courage.  From my mom, I learned about the twinconcepts of gimu and giri – duty and obligation.  She told me stories about the heroic deeds ofJapanese-American Nisei soldiers who fought so valiantly during World War II.  Theirs is a legacy of service that has a specialresonance for me.
 
So,it's no exaggeration for me to say that I stand on the shoulders ofgiants.  For me to be where I am today – aJapanese American four-star admiral, in command of all U.S. joint militaryforces across half the earth – is because of trail blazers like the men andwomen of the Military Intelligence Service ... the 100th Infantry Battalion ... the442nd Regimental Combat Team ... and the 1399th Engineer ConstructionBattalion.  In a world erupting with thefires of war, these exceptional people rose above fear and prejudice to defendsomething greater than themselves.  Theirsacrifice blazed a trail towards freedom and justice for all mankind.
 
Andthe outcome is nothing short of extraordinary. Our bitter World War II enemies of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan arenow new nations, and staunch allies of the United States – a fact I wasreminded of just a few weeks ago when the city of Nagaoka, Japan commemoratedthe end of World War II by providing a spectacular fireworks display over thewaters of Pearl Harbor, the very place where the war tragically began for theUnited States.  It was a moving, joyful celebrationof shared peace.
 
Thesecommemorative events not only mark the courageous efforts of the Nisei warriorsand all those who served and supported the war effort, they also mark the 70years of peace and friendship that have connected Japan and the United States,our defense forces and our people.  ThePacific Ocean – once a fiery tableau of brutal warfare – has become a stable regionfor our countries to enjoy peace and prosperity.
 
Today,our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coastguardsmen work side-by-sidewith our Japanese Allies, mutually committed to security throughout theregion.  We enjoy the fruits of theseprosperous times because of the seeds sown by the men and women who sacrificed so muchseven decades ago.
 
Ournation draws her strength from those who served before us, and our nation willcontinue to draw her strength from those who freely volunteer to serve anddefend the United States as members of our armed forces.  Those who serve are part of an unbroken chain,linking Americans, generation to generation.
 
Ourstrength as a nation also comes from citizens like each of you in the audiencetoday – Americans who are aware of the challenges, the opportunities and thedangers we continue to face.  As theoldest and largest Asian Pacific Americancivil rights organization, I know that the JACL strives to promote a world thathonors diversity by respecting values of fairness, equality and social justice.  As someone who has personally benefited fromthe important work conducted by the JACL – even before I was born – I can’tthank you enough for promoting and preserving the proud heritage of theJapanese American community.  
When Dr. Benjamin Maysdelivered the eulogy at Dr. Martin Luther King’s funeral, he said that Dr.King’s unfinished work on earth must truly be our own.
 
Ladies and gentlemen,that work falls to each of us.  So as wemove forward together, I urge you to continue teaching future generationsabout the treasured prize of freedom that was so dearly won 70 years ago.  Thank you for all you do.Biography - Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., U.S. Navy **                    SHARE                **                    PRINT                More News/Articles