Title
Recognizing May 2020 as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in Philadelphia to commemorate the proud heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and their vital contributions that continue to enhance the City's culture, economy, and the founding ideals of independence and democracy.
Body
WHEREAS, Section 102 of Title 36, United States Code, officially designates May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and authorizes the President to issue an annual proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe this special month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities; and
WHEREAS, May was chosen in recognition of two important historical dates in Asian American and Pacific Islander history; on May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States and on May 10, 1869, the building of the transcontinental railroad was completed due to significant contributions from Chinese workers; and
WHEREAS, AAPIs have a rich history of service to the U.S. in the armed forces. For centuries, AAPI members of the military led the efforts to secure civil rights for veterans and immigrants. During the entire history of the U.S., tens of thousands of AAPI veterans, both men and women, served with honor and distinction. After their service, many of these veterans made significant contributions to society both in their civilian lives and in politics; and
WHEREAS, Filipinos were the first recorded Asians in the U.S. military, having served during the War of 1812. AAPIs continued to serve the U.S. military in significant numbers during the Civil War, World War 1, World War II, Korean War and the Vietnam Conflict. Notably, Hidemitsu Toyota, an Issei, and Bhaghat Singh Thind, a Sikh, served in WWI and petitioned the Supreme Court for citizenship. Sergeant Major Tokutaro Nishimura Slocum, an Issei, who also served in WWI in the 328th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Division, later lobbied for naturalizatio...
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