The National Veterans Network, a coalition of Japanese-American veteran and civic organizations, has been designated as the entity that will plan and execute the congressional gold medal ceremony and related events in 2011. It will work with Congress, the White House, and the U.S. Mint to ensure that the ceremony and events will be coordinated with input and consensus by Japanese-American World War II organizations nationwide, including such groups in Hawaii.
A medal design committee led by Major General Jim Mukoyama and Major General Tony Taguba has been formed to help provide feedback on insignias and other relevant materials that will be submitted to the U.S. Mint as part of the design process. Final design of the congressional gold medal will be approved by U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in the spring or summer of 2011. The U.S. Mint will complete the medal in an estimated nine to twelve months from enactment of the legislation.
After the medal has been created, the Speaker of the U.S. House will host a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol honoring the 100th, 442nd, and MIS. During the ceremony, the medal will be presented to the veterans and their families before it goes to the Smithsonian for permanent display. Major organizations across the country will help sponsor veterans so that they may attend the ceremony, which is scheduled to take place in the summer or fall of 2011.
Members of the 100th, 442nd, and MIS who served during World War II are eligible for this award. These veterans, their next of kin, or spouses of deceased veterans who would like to attend the congressional ceremony may either register online at http://www.nationalveteransnetwork.com or contact Terry Shima, Executive Director of the Japanese American Veterans Association, via email at ttshima@comcast.net or via phone at (301) 642-2553.
In addition, three-inch bronze duplicate medals will be available for sale by the U.S. Mint around the time that the congressional ceremony will take place. Anyone may purchase this replica, which will cost about $50.00 (case included).
More information about the congressional gold medal and the related ceremony can be found by going to http://www.nationalveteransnetwork.com .
November 11, 2010, Congresswoman Mazie Hirono with Shigeo Kawamoto, Grand Marshall of the
Wahiawa Veterans Day Parade
US Mint
The National Veterans Network (NVN) is in the process of working with the US Mint on the design of the Congressional Gold Medal. The timeline is as follows:
November 2010 US Mint announces guidelines for the Mint designers
December 2010 US Mint commissions designers
January/February 2011 Designers work on three or four designs
February/March 2011 Designs will be shared with NVN
April 2011 US Mint sends designs to Fine Arts Commission and Citizen Advisory Coin Commission
May 2011 US Mint Director sends it to the Secretary of Treasury
May/June 2011 Approval of design
June 2011 Eight-week production of the medal begins
August 2011 Congressional Gold Medal (original) and replicas completed
Two-day commemoration/Ceremony date
NVN is planning a two-day event in Washington DC that includes memorial services to remember those KIA and those who have passed on at both the National World War II Memorial and the Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism. A wreath presentation is also being planned at the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington National Cemetery. On the second day, Congress will host the Congressional Awards Ceremony, and a national gala dinner will be held.
Regarding the ceremony date, the awards ceremony cannot take place until the US Mint finishes the design and production of the Congressional Gold Medal. NVN will seek a ceremony date in the fall of 2011 (likely to be in early October 2011). Congress will determine the ceremony date.
Veteran Registry
NVN has set up a Veterans Registry on its website in the "ceremony" section: http://www.nationalveteransnetwork.com/ceremony.html
The purpose of the registry is to determine the interest of veterans, next of kin and family members who wish to attend the events in Washington, D.C.
As of November 10, 2010, 917 people have registered, the majority of whom are family members.
The final decision on who attends (living veterans, next of kin, family, etc.) and how many can attend is determined by the Speaker of the House. The veteran registry was designed for planning purposes to provide the Speaker with concrete numbers of those interested in attending the ceremony. While NVN will share the registry numbers and interest level with the Speaker, the final list of invitees will determined by the Speaker's office. However, invitations to the memorial services and gala dinner will be extended to all parties to collectively honor and commemorate this historic occasion.
Honor Flight
Honor Flight, a nonprofit organization who flies veterans to Washington, D.C. has agreed to partner with NVN for the Congressional Gold Medal event. Honor Flight is seeking to fly 100th, 442nd and MIS veterans to Washington, D.C. for free by providing airfare and accommodations and an opportunity to see the National WWII Memorial. Living 100th, 442nd and MIS veterans who are registered with NVN will be considered by Honor Flight. If you know veterans who would be interested in attending the ceremony, please encourage them to register by going to NVN's web site: http://www.nationalveteransnetwork.com or emailing Metta Tanikawa (cgm.tanikawa@gmail.com), Terry Shima (ttshima@comcast.net), or Christine Sato-Yamazaki (Christine@csy-assoc.com).
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