Read first time 01/21/09.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     TO THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, The Nisei veterans of the Second World War provided the avenue for Japanese-Americans to prove their loyalty to the United States by serving as the ultimate patriots in the Armed Forces; and
     WHEREAS, These veterans served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the 100th Infantry Battalion, and the Military Intelligence Service (MIS); and
     WHEREAS, The 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team of the United States Army were comprised of Japanese-Americans who fought in Europe during the Second World War; and
     WHEREAS, The 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team were members of the most highly decorated military unit of its size in the history of the United States Armed Forces, with twenty-one Medal of Honor recipients, numerous Purple Hearts, and many other awards; and
     WHEREAS, Tens of thousands of lives were saved because the MIS used their knowledge of Japanese language and culture to help the Allies end the Second World War quickly in the Pacific; and
     WHEREAS, The Nisei veterans proud American legacy continues, however many Nisei veterans have passed away and those still alive are now in their eighties and nineties; and
     WHEREAS, These Nisei veterans should be publicly commemorated;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray 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.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.