WWII Fil Vets
replace tattered American flag
By ROSE SAN DIEGO
February 6, 2016
CHICAGO – On December 30, 2015, in honor of our national hero
Dr. Jose Rizal, while challenging the inclement weather conditions,
the WWII Filipino veterans of Illinois volunteered to remove a
tattered American Flag with a new one they donated.
Americas "Old Glory" was half shredded and still entangled in tree
branches, the other half that was left of her still flying in pieces
over a small veteran's memorial dedicated with names of the fallen
during the Global War inscribed on a bronze "Honor Roll" plaque by
those residing in a community.
These same WWII Filipino veterans renewed the task only years ago, to
again bring public awareness to three church bells and cannon removed
by the US Army in 1901 from the Town of Balangiga in Eastern Samar.
This has been a difficult
mission for Filipino communities because of the lack of support by
elected officials of the Philippine government to request a formal
inquiry. In the US, we are uncertain if orders to suppress the church
bell campaign had been issued to our local office of the Philippine
Consulate General of Chicago via Ambassador Cuisia or by the
Department of Foreign Affairs, Secretary Albert del Rosario.
One thing is for certain,
for the entire 365 days approximately one hour on April 9, is set
aside by staff representatives of the Philippine Consulate General of
Chicago, to pass out donated brown bag snacks here in Chicago for
these aging WWII veterans. It was requested in advance to invite these
WWII Filipino veterans during President Aquino's visit here on May
2015, to demonstrate the Philippines stead-fast support for their
on-going, continued efforts in the community. Failure to take action
with these early decisions by someone within the Chicago's Consulate
General, should result in disciplinary review for those foreign career
service diplomats involved.
