Late in 1997, a group of Japanese American veterans of WWII felt an overwhelming need to make sure that their comrades who paid the supreme sacrifice in WWII were individually honored and remembered with a memorial akin to those that honor the JA war dead from the Korean and Vietnam conflicts already existing in the National Japanese American Veterans Memorial Court at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.

 

Under the leadership of Dr. Roy Machida, a 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran, the American of Japanese Ancestry World War II Memorial Alliance was duly established. A reception to announce the fund drive was held at the JACCC on Saturday, May 8, 1998 attended by some 200 persons. The original goal was to raise $800,000, but after deciding on a final design bringing the cost of the memorial project to a more realistic $500,000 goal. At the end of 1999, the group raised $450,000.

 

For many veterans of WWII, this was seen as the last chance to pay proper tribute to their comrades who gave their lives. With the dedication of the WWII memorial on Day of Remembrance, Saturday, February 19, 2000, the members of the Memorial Alliance expressed their appreciation to all who donated to the campaign and will feel the satisfaction of knowing that their dedicated efforts were not in vain.