*

12.24.2007

update on japanese american veterans stamp

Some more news on the campaign for a commemorative postage stamp honoring the contributions and sacrifice of the Japanese American veterans of World War II: A stamp of approval for Japanese American veterans? The movement is gaining quite a bit of momentum, with pushes happening even from outside the Asian American community. At a press conference in Los Angeles last week, the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance pledged support for the campaign and called on the U.S. Postal Service to approve the proposal when its commemorative stamp review committee meets next month.

There's just a month left before the stamp committee meets to decide on this stamp. If you support this campaign, consider sending letters of support and signing a petition as soon as possible, by the first week of January. You can ask your Congressperson to sign the Congressional Letter of Support for this stamp, if they haven't already done so. You can even use the following script:
"Hi my name is _______. I am a constituent who lives and votes in your district in the city of _________. My phone number is ________. I respectfully request that you sign the Congressional Letter of Support for a U.S. commemorative postage stamp honoring the American World War II servicemen and women of Japanese heritage, also called the "Nisei." This 'Dear Colleague' letter from Congressman Mike Honda has already been signed by both Democrats and Republicans to recognize these patriots of World War II with a U.S. postage stamp. Please contact Congressman Honda's office with any questions. Thank you."
Twenty-one representatives have signed so far. For more information on how to contact your political leaders, go here. And for general information on the Nisei WWII Veterans Commemorative Stamp Campaign, visit the website here.