On Saturday, August 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Nisei Week Plaza Festival by the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC), 244 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, visitors will have the opportunity to learn and preserve the WWII Nisei veteran legacy through a special commemorative card featuring the Go For Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII Forever stamp with the special U.S. Postal Service cancellation postmark: “Nisei Week Station, August 17, 2024”. The cards are free while supplies last.
The historic 2021 issued Go For Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII Forever postage stamp will be featured on a free commemorative card that will be available at the Stamp Our Story Committee / Veterans Memorial Court Alliance table, near the Japanese American National War Memorial Court at the JACCC, during the Nisei Week Plaza Festival from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Receiving a 1-page bio, with photo of one of the KIA soldiers whose name is etched on the granite walls of the Memorial Court, visitors will be able to learn about the Japanese Americans who served and made the supreme sacrifice during World War II (and more recent conflicts). Among them is local Los Angeles Medal of Honor Recipient Sadao “Spud” Munemori who was born in Glendale, CA.
Munemori graduated from Lincoln High School and enlisted in the US Army prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. His parents and siblings were incarcerated at the Manzanar War Relocation Authority concentration camp in California. Munemori was killed in action during the epic battle at the Gothic Line, Germany’s last line of defense in Italy.
Having silenced two enemy machine gun positions, he was returning to the crater holding two men of his squad. As he approached, a German hand grenade bounced off his helmet and fell toward the two men. Sadao jumped on the grenade, smothering the blast and saving his comrades. He was killed instantly. The first Medal of Honor recipient of Japanese heritage, Munemori is forever remembered and honored at the Japanese American National War Memorial Court, alongside over 1,200 other Japanese Americans from all wars who gave their lives while serving in the U.S. military.
Donations will be accepted to support the educational programs of the Veterans Memorial Court Alliance and the Stamp Our Story Committee. Go For Broke Forever U.S. Postal Service stamp (sheets of 20), which are being discontinued by the Postal Service, will be available for purchase at the fundraising booth. Commemorative cards are a limited quantity and available while supplies last. For more information, go to StampOurStory.org.
