Petition sponsor
PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP AFTER YOU SIGN. THE STAMP'S SUCCESS MAY DEPEND ON IT... We would especially benefit from letters of support from individuals and organizations. Learn more by reading here for ongoing campaign initiatives (updated regularly), and go to
www.niseistamp.org for more information, including where to send letters of support (and a downloadable sample form letter, as well as a blank handwritten petition).
POSTAL SERVICE SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE TO REVIEW POLICY - DECISION STILL PENDING
UPDATED 6/19/2008: The Postal Service's decision on the Japanese American WWII veterans commemorative stamp is still pending. Congressman Mike Honda's office has been checking in with the USPS Congressional Liaison regularly, but there is still no decision. Rep. Honda, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, led the campaign for a Congressional letter of support for the stamp last fall, which received 40 signers.
Mr. Terrence McCaffrey, Manager of the Postal Service's Stamp Development Department, announced the following in a March 24th letter to the City of Alhambra, which had sent the Postal Service a city resolution in support of the stamp this spring:
"At their January meeting, the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee discussed a proposal to honor Japanese-American World War II Veterans on a commemorative postage stamp. The idea had been rejected in the past because of the Postal Service's long-standing policy of not recognizing individual units or groups in the military.
As a result of increased interest in this and other similar subjects, a subcommittee has been formed to review the policy. There is no established timetable for the review and subjects that pertain to this category have not been placed in the under consideration category. Once the review is complete, these subjects will be presented to the Committee for discussion."
This stamp campaign has argued from the beginning that the Postal Service has a clear precedent of honoring groups in the military. Most recently, the Buffalo Soldiers were honored in 1994, and Latinos in uniform were honored with "Hispanic Americans: A Proud Heritage," in 1984. It should also be pointed out that the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II have a stamp proposal that was elevated to "under consideration" status by the Postal Service last year, which is the final step just prior to a stamp being issued. We are seeking an explanation of the Postal Service's general policy of disallowing groups in the military to be honored while some do get approved.
Our stamp campaign will continue to demonstrate support for the stamp until it receives official word that the stamp will be issued. Ongoing efforts will center around raising public awareness and support through petitions, letters of support, and resolutions. We are urging the Postal Service to issue the stamp at the earliest possible date. We encourage supporters to continue their efforts.
ILLINOIS STATE RESOLUTION PASSES
The Illinois state resolution in support of the Nisei WWII veterans commemorative stamp, HR 850, unanimously passed in the state's House of Representatives on April 9th. State Representative Constance Howard, who initiated the effort in the legislature, presented the resolution. "“Their service must not be forgotten by subsequent generations,” said Rep. Howard at the podium. Illinois now joins the state legislatures of Hawaii and California, which passed similar resolutions unanimously this past winter.
HR 850 was considered at a committee hearing on Wednesday, February 27th, 2008. The committee unanimously voted in favor of supporting the resolution in a 13-0, bipartisan vote, to forward the resolution to the House floor of the state legislature. JACL Midwest Regional Director, Bill Yoshino, presented testimony at the hearing, and was joined at the podium by Sam Ozaki, 442nd member and retired Chicago high school principal.
We sincerely thank Rep. Howard, Mr. Yoshino, Mr. Ozaki, and all of the supporting individuals and organizations in Illinois who helped in this state's grassroots effort. We would especially like to acknowledge the dedicated efforts of Carole Herhold of Chicago who first approached Rep. Howard about the stamp campaign this past winter. Over 200 letters of support for the resolution were gathered in support of the resolution once it was introduced by Rep. Howard and set for the hearing. Contact Rep. Howard's aide, Mr. Jude McKenna, with questions at 217-782-1014.
ALHAMBRA CITY RESOLUTION PASSES IN CALIFORNIA
The City of Alhambra, California, passed a resolution of support for the stamp on February 25, 2008. Alhambra joins over 60 cities and counties nationwide which have voiced their support. Councilman Gary Yamauchi, who is a longtime advocate for the veterans, and strong supporter of the campaign, spearheaded this effort. We are deeply grateful to Councilman Yamauchi, Mayor Luis Ayala, City Council members, and all of those who supported this effort.
COUNTY OF HAWAII PASSES RESOLUTION
The campaign was just informed this week that the County of Hawaii passed a resolution (#503-08) to support the creation of the Nisei WWII veterans stamp on February 21, 2008. They join two other counties nationwide, including the County of Maui, and County of Los Angeles, in official county expressions of support directed at the Postal Service. We wish to thank all of the those who contributed to the resolution effort on the Big Island.
BOTH HOUSES OF CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE UNANIMOUSLY PASS RESOLUTION
The California State Senate unanimously passed a resolution supporting the creation of the Nisei WWII veterans stamp on Thursday, February 7th. The State Assembly also unanimously passed a resolution two weeks earlier on Tuesday, January 22nd. Assemblyman Mike Eng spearheaded the effort on behalf of the stamp campaign coalition. We are deeply grateful to all in California who supported this statewide effort. Thank you for helping to make history!
STATE LEGISLATURE OF WASHINGTON INTRODUCES RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF STAMP
The drive for the state of Washington's memorial resolution to support the creation of a stamp to honor the Japanese American WWII veterans has apparently been postponed until 2009. Introduced on January 24th by State Senator Brian Weinstein, the legislature directs its request to President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, that "...the United States Postal Service issue a postage stamp in commemoration of the Nisei veterans' service in the United States Armed Forces during the Second World War."
STATE LEGISLATURE OF HAWAII PASSES RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF STAMP
Both houses of the Hawaii state legislature passed a resolution supporting the creation of a Nisei WWII veterans stamp on Friday, January 18th. Hawaii has become the first state to pass a resolution of support. Led mainly by Hawaii State Rep. John Mizuno, State Sen. Les Ihara, Jr., and Hawaii Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona, the state legislature speedily passed the resolution so it could be sent to the Postal Service in time for the stamp selection meeting on January 24-25th. The State of Illinois will soon be considering a resolution as well. We sincerely thank all those working at the state level to help in the campaign!
40 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SIGN LETTER OF SUPPORT
We in the campaign wish to thank all who have contacted their representatives in Congress to support the stamp. The Congressional letter of support for the stamp, which closed on January 11th, has received 40 signers, listed below. We thank all in Congress who have signed and now support our efforts. The Congressional letter has been transmitted to the Postal Service for their Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee meeting, where members met to decide the fate of the stamp proposal on January 24-25th, along with the hundreds of other requests for stamps. They can place the proposal "under consideration," and mull over its decision, or reject it. Rejected proposals can be reviewed annually. We will notify the public as soon as we hear from the Postal Service about their decision. It may be months before we hear any word from them, so we appreciate your patience.
The following lists those in Congress who have signed in support of the stamp. Did your representative sign?
Arizona: Raul Grijalva;
California: Joe Baca, Xavier Becerra, Howard Berman, Ken Calvert, Lois Capps, Susan Davis, Sam Farr, Mike Honda, Zoe Lofgren, Doris Matsui, George Miller, Grace Napolitano, Lynn Woolsey, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Ed Royce, Linda Sanchez, Loretta Sanchez, Adam Schiff, Hilda Solis, Pete Stark;
Colorado: Mark Udall;
Connecticut: John Larson;
Florida: Alcee Hastings;
Hawaii: Neil Abercrombie, Mazie Hirono;
Illinois: Bobby Rush;
Minnesota: Betty McCollum;
New York: Joseph Crowley, Maurice Hinchey, Carolyn Maloney;
Ohio: Sen. Sherrod Brown
Oregon: David Wu;
Pennsylvania: Joe Sestak;
Texas: Al Green;
Virginia: Robert “Bobby” Scott;
Washington: Jim McDermott, Adam Smith;
American Samoa: Eni Faleomavaega;
Guam: Madeleine Bordallo.
Though it may be too late to sign the letter from Congress, lawmakers can be asked to write their own letters of support. Call the Congress Switchboard toll free at 1-800-828-0498. If you don't know the name of your representative, ask the Congress Switchboard operator for help. Your home's zip code can be used to locate the people who represent you in House and Senate.
Of course letters can also be written to your representative requesting support. Reach them on the internet as well:
Tell your U.S. Representative:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/...
Tell your U.S. Senators:
www.senate.gov/
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The Nisei WWII Veterans Stamp Campaign is a nationwide, grassroots coalition created by wives, family members and friends of the veterans. It is all-volunteer run, and funded by individual members who contribute their time and energy. Our goal is to convince the U.S. Postal Service to issue a commemorative postage stamp soon to honor the Japanese Americans who served during WWII.
The Postal Service notified us last fall that they would formally review our proposal. Their advisory meeting was on January 24-25, 2008. We will let the public know when we receive news from the Postal Service on the status of the proposal. The stamp selection process takes about three years, and our proposal will be up for a possible 2010 stamp at the soonest, so please be patient. They have no obligation to tell the campaign based on any quick timetable, so we may not hear any word for months.
The Postal Service has a history of honoring U.S. minority veterans, including Latinos in uniform in "Hispanic Americans: A Proud Heritage" (1984), and the special African American unit "Buffalo Soldiers" (1994). Anyone, from any nation, is welcome to help in this effort. Thank you!
PLEASE CONTINUE CAMPAIGNING AFTER YOU SIGN THIS INTERNET PETITION. This internet petition supplements the handwritten one. Sign both petition forms if possible. They will be sent separately. Join in our resolutions and letter-writing campaigns. It just takes a few minutes of your time. A brief letter of support can go miles for the campaign. Form letters are also available.
For more ways and resources to help assure that this stamp is issued, visit us online at
www.niseistamp.org
THANK YOU for your help! Please tell your family and friends! Start your own campaign where you are, with the people around you, working toward the same goal. Be creative, and let us know how you're doing!
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DISCLAIMER: ANY SOLICITATIONS AND ADS THAT YOU MAY ENCOUNTER ON THIS INTERNET PETITION WEBSITE ARE NOT PART OF THE STAMP CAMPAIGN. We only seek your support of the stamp campaign. This ipetitions website allowed us to post for free during early October in exchange for their freedom to use ads. We in the campaign apologize for any unwanted solicitations that you may have experienced at that time. We have upgraded our petition, and now you should not receive any ads or solicitations from this website.
Please email us at info@niseistamp.org if you experience this problem, or if you have any other concerns. Thank you.
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