The National Museum of American History will host an unveiling ceremony marking the return of the Nisei Soldier Congressional Gold Medal to Washington, D.C., after its seven-city national tour in 2013. The ceremony, held to commemorate the Day of Remembrance, will take place Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m. on the third floor in the east wing of the museum. Following the unveiling, World War II veterans, community leaders and scholars will participate in a panel discussion from 11 a.m. to noon in the Warner Bros. Theater. Both events are free and open to the public.
In addition, the museum is partnering with the Japanese American Citizens League and the National Association of Broadcasters to co-sponsor an offsite performance of an excerpt from Jeanne Sakata’s one-man play “HOLD THESE TRUTHS.” The play details Presidential Medal of Freedom awardee Gordon Hirabayashi’s legal challenge of the Japanese American internment during World War II and celebrates this lesser-known civil rights hero’s pursuit of justice. A discussion will follow the performance. For more information, visit http://jacl.org