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THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION


  REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE AND THE MEMBERS OF
    THE CITIZENS' STAMP ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ISSUE
    COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS AND STATIONERY TO HONOR SPARK M.
    MATSUNAGA (1916-1990), UNITED STATES SENATOR AND
    CONGRESSMAN, AND WORLD WAR II HERO, AND THE 100TH INFANTRY
    BATTALION AND THE 442ND REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM FOR THEIR
    SACRIFICES AND ACTS OF VALOR DURING WORLD WAR II.



 1        WHEREAS, Spark M. Matsunaga, a decorated war hero who
 2   became a United States Senator from the State of Hawaii,
 3   dedicated his life and career to achieving liberty and justice
 4   for all people and promoting world peace; and
 5   
 6        WHEREAS, a Japanese-American, he served with distinction
 7   and valor in the 100th Infantry Battalion, the first Japanese
 8   American unit formed during World War II, for which he received
 9   the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Bronze Star medal, and two
10   Purple Heart medals; and
11   
12        WHEREAS, as a political leader, he was a champion of
13   veterans' rights and welfare and a staunch defender of civil
14   rights for all Americans, including immigrants and other
15   minority groups, regardless of their race or ethnicity; and
16   
17        WHEREAS, as a member of the United States Senate, the late
18   Senator Matsunaga worked to promote the peaceful resolution of
19   global conflicts, encouraged Soviet-American cooperation in the
20   aftermath of the Cold War, and fought to obtain redress for the
21   survivors of World War II internment camps; and
22   
23        WHEREAS, the experiences that guided the late Senator
24   Senator Matsunaga in his quest for peace and justice for all
25   people was undoubtedly kindled from his experiences as a young
26   Japanese-American soldier in the 100th Infantry Battalion; and
27   
28        WHEREAS, for their meritorious service during
29   World War II, the late Senator Matsunaga and his brothers-in-
30   arms in the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental
31   Combat Team amassed an astonishing number of individual and

 
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 1   unit awards, making the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd
 2   Regimental Combat Team one of the most decorated military units
 3   in U.S. history; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, the deeds and sacrifices collectively made by the
 6   men of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental
 7   Combat Team were done with the full understanding of the
 8   mistreatment and injustices their families were experiencing
 9   back at home; and
10   
11        WHEREAS, in spite of the mistreatment, injustice, and
12   hostility toward Japanese-Americans in America at the time, the
13   men of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental
14   Combat Team volunteered their services and lives to ensure that
15   future generations of Japanese-Americans would not suffer the
16   same oppression and injustice that they themselves experienced
17   and fought against; and
18   
19        WHEREAS, for these reasons, the Legislature of the State
20   of Hawaii wholeheartedly believes that both Senator Spark M.
21   Matsunaga and the men of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the
22   442nd Regimental Combat Team deserve recognition for the
23   sacrifices and accomplishments they have made for themselves,
24   their families, and for mankind; now, therefore,
25   
26        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
27   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 1999, the House of
28   Representatives concurring, that the United States Postal
29   Service and the members of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory
30   Committee are requested to issue:
31   
32        (1)  A commemorative stamp and stationery to honor Spark
33             M. Matsunaga (1916-1990), United States Senator and
34             Congressman, and World War II hero; and
35   
36        (2)  A commemorative stamp and stationery to honor the
37             100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental
38             Combat Team for their sacrifices and acts of valor
39             during World War II;
40   
41   and
42   
43        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
44   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Postmaster General
45   of the United States, the Chairperson of the Board of Governors
46   of the United States Postal Service, the Citizens' Stamp
47   Advisory Committee, and the members of Hawaii's Congressional
48   Delegation.