Fri 15 Aug 2008
House Recognizes Asian American Soldiers of Civil War (Rafu Shimpo)
Posted by Editor under Civil Rights , PoliticsThe U.S. House of Representatives on July 30 passed a resolution honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander soldiers who fought in the Civil War, culminating a five-year battle to help correct the historical record.Historians have recently uncovered evidence that hundreds of soldiers of AAPI heritage fought on both the Union and Confederate sides, continuing a long tradition of significant AAPI contributions to the history of the United States. House Resolution 415 posthumously honors Edward Day Cohota and Joseph L. Pierce, both of Chinese ancestry, as examples of this overlooked group of men.
“The history of America would be totally different without the contributions of Asian Americans. Asian Americans have been an integral part of making our country great,” said Rep. Mike Honda, who introduced the bill. “I am pleased that heroes such as Pierce and Cohota will finally take the place they deserve in our nation’s memory.”