Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez yesterday echoed the lack of due recognition and grant of material benefits for Filipino Veterans of the Second World War who fought with courage and sacrifice alongside American troops in the defense of freedom for the Philippines and the United States.

Speaking at the 61st anniversary reception for the A-Day commemorative rites held at the historic War Memorial Building in San Francisco, Consul General Sanchez read the message of Philippine Ambassador to the United States Albert del Rosario for the occasion which marked the 61st anniversary of the Allied landings in Leyte.

“It was a grave injustice that the Filipinos who had been called to serve in the USAFFE, by no less than President Franklin D. Roosevelt, would have their rightfully earned veterans’ service and benefits cast aside by the Rescission Act of 1946,” said Consul General Sanchez in reading the message Ambassador del Rosario.

“To correct this injustice, Filipinos and Americans have worked together through successive Administrations and Congress to gradually restore what was taken from our brave Filipino Veterans,” she quoted the Ambassador in his message.

In her opening statement, Consul General Sanchez cited the heroism and courage of Filipinos and Allied soldiers who spearheaded the campaign to liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation during the war.

“The sacrifices made by many Filipinos, Americans, and other Allied troops proved vital to the success of A-Day and the campaign to liberate the Philippines. I believe we should take a moment to thank these brave men and women whose numbers are dwindling every year,” she added.

Present at last night’s event included all personnel from the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco whose choir gave a heart wrenching rendition of the Philippine national anthem, officials from the White House and the City and County of San Francisco, and of course the honored guests, the Filipino and American war veterans.

Among the veterans present included Lt. Joe Aquino, a Filipino World War II veteran who was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the American Legion War Memorial Commission.

The A-Day rites in San Francisco were held to commemorate the Allied landings on the shores of Leyte, Philippines on 20 October 1944. The term was coined by General Douglas Mac Arthur to differentiate it from D-Day which is the day American and Allied forces landed in Normandy, France on 6 June 1944.