Honolulu, Hawaii and Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators for Hawaii Daniel K. Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye are pleased that President Bush used his executive authority today to issue a Presidential Proclamation designating the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.  The President has authority to designate objects of historic or scientific interest as national monuments under the Antiquities Act of 1906.

In a joint statement today Akaka and Inouye said: "As we approach the 67^th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, it is important that we honor the courage and dedication of the troops who served in the Pacific and sacrificed so much, including their lives, in the defense of this nation.  It is also important that we commemorate the actions of ordinary men and women who rallied to support their country during this time of war, including the citizens of Hawaii who responded fearlessly to the attack on Pearl Harbor.    

"We applaud the President for his decision to tie the history of World War II in the Pacific into a cohesive story through the National Monument designation.  It is crucial that future generations learn and remember the heroic actions of those who struggled on behalf of freedom and democracy.  It is also necessary to tell the difficult stories, such as the internment of some 120,000 Japanese-Americans, in order to learn from our nations' past mistakes.  The President's declaration introduces a new way of thinking about National Monuments as non-contiguous pieces of a larger narrative and we look forward to working with the Department of Interior on its implementation." 

Senators Akaka and Inouye are veterans of World War II.  Senator Inouye received a Medal of Honor and Purple Heart for his sacrifices during the war, and is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations.  Senator Akaka is Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support. 

On the web:

World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument website: https://pwrcms.nps.gov/customcf/apps/ww2ip/

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