The United States Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to Filipino World War II veterans on April 9, 2019, National Heroes Day in the Philippines.
In ceremonies held at the Emiliana Hall, Barangay Tenejero in Balanga City, Bataan, the Filipino World War II veterans were awarded the U.S, Congressional Gold Medals, the highest civilian honor conferred by Congress, the 2nd time the awarding was done on Philippine soil following a September 2018 awarding at the United States Embassy in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.
In 2017, a single medal of honor was given to 260,000 Filipino and Filipino-American soldiers who served in the U.S. military from the summer of 1941 to the winter of 1946 to thank them for their service and sacrifice during the war.
Honored with the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal were:
1. Private First Class Florentino Platero
2. Private First Class Macario Roque
3. Private First Class Rogel Viray
4. Private First Class Leopoldo Gunsay
5. Private First Class Francisca dela Fuente
6. Private First Class Democrito Domingo
Posthumously awarded through their relatives were:
1. Private First Class Lewe Domingo
2. Staff Sgt. Gabriel Layug
3. Capt. Quirico Evangelista
4. Maj. Pedro Quezon
The awarding in Bataan was held with the participation of Assistant Director Kevin Mcallister of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina, administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu for Civil Veterans and Retiree Affairs of the Department of Defense.
Leave your comments below for our war heroes to thank them for keeping the Philippines safe and say they are not forgotten!
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