Visitors to the Nisei Week Plaza Festival at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, 244 S. San Pedro St. in Little Tokyo, on Saturday, Aug. 17, will have the opportunity to learn and preserve the World War II Nisei veteran legacy through a special commemorative card featuring the Go For Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WW2 Forever stamp with the special U.S. Postal Service cancelation postmark: “Nisei Week Station, Aug. 17, 2024.”
The cards are free while supplies last. Quantities are limited.
The historic 2021-issued Go For Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WW2 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 JACCC, during the Nisei Week Plaza Festival from 11a.m. to 4 p.m.
Receiving a one-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. He graduated from Lincoln High School and enlisted in the U.S. 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. The Go For Broke stamp, which is being discontinued by the Postal Service, will be available for purchase in sheets of 20 at the booth. For more information, go to StampOurStory.org.