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Amata Joins Vice President at Honor Carry Ceremony

August 2, 2018

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata attended the moving Honor Carry Ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawai'i receiving back the remains of Korean War fallen American soldiers repatriated from North Korea. Vice President Pence and Indo-Pacific Command (PACOM) Commander Admiral Phil Davidson, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawai'i, invited military officers and Korean War veterans were there to pay respects to these honored soldiers on their way to a properly marked resting place in the United States.

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Honoring our repatriated fallen heroes
Honor Carry Ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

"This was a solemn occasion, but it is a welcome development that these soldiers are at last going home to families and descendants," said Aumua Amata. "It was incredibly moving to observe these military honors. These soldiers sacrificed their lives in their youth or prime of life in service to our country and the cause of freedom, and we owe them a great debt."

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Congresswoman Amata and PACOM Commander Admiral Davidson
Congresswoman Amata with PACOM Commander Admiral Davidson.

The American Samoan tradition of service in the U.S. military has only grown since the time of the war in Korea, where dozens of American Samoans served at the time. Aetonu Litisoni is the only confirmed American Samoan fatality on official records for the Korean War, and several more Samoans were wounded. Sergeant Litisoni led a unit in battle honorably and fortunately his remains were recovered at the time. Today, the people of American Samoa enlist at high rates, and the Army recruiting station in our Territory ranks first in the nation in per capita enlistment.

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Amata was honored to spend time with Korean War veterans at the Ceremony
Amata was honored to spend time with Korean War veterans there to observe the Ceremony at Hickam.

"We pray these repatriated remains will bring additional healing to these families, and be an important and lasting reminder of the sacrifice so many have made," continued Congresswoman Amata. "At the end of the Korean War, President Eisenhower turned to the words of President Lincoln, ‘As President Lincoln said, "with malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the light" we should do all to achieve a just and lasting peace among all nations.'"

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Vice President Pence at the military Honor Carry ceremony
Vice President Pence in the Honor Carry Ceremony receiving repatriated soldiers.

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Issues:Military