Postal Persuasion

Wayne Osako, co-chair of the Stamp Our Story campaign, addressed the Greater L.A. JACL on June 12 at Merit Park Recreation Hall in Gardena. Osako, pictured with chapter leaders (from left) Louise Sakamoto, Miyako Kadogawa and Janet Okubo, gave an update on the 11-year campaign to urge the U.S. Postal Service to issue a stamp featuring the Japanese American soldiers of World War II. Although the USPS has no obligation to respond to proposals, the campaign’s goal is to have a stamp issued in 2017 to mark the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9066. Osako pointed out that only five stamp subjects have shown Asian Pacific American people or culture — including Chinese New Year, which is not specific to APAs — and that stamps honoring African Americans, Hispanic Americans and women in the military have been issued before. For more details, visit www.StampOurStory.org. (Photo by J.K. YAMAMOTO/Rafu Shimpo)