Pearl Harbor provides backdrop for FRA salute to Senator Inouye

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Pearl Harbor provides backdrop for FRA salute to Senator Inouye  


ALEXANDRIA, VA – As the nation pauses to reflect on the sacrifices of those who were killed and wounded 63 years ago today in an unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor, FRA is proud to recognize Senator Daniel Inouye for his efforts to ensure that current military members, as well as veterans, receive the benefits they are due. George R. Kaye, FRA’s National President, presented Senator Inouye with the Association’s prestigious Pinnacle Award at a special reception today at FRA Branch 46 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.


FRA selected Senator Inouye to receive its 2004 award in recognition of his unwavering support of our nation’s men and women in uniform. His strong commitment to military personnel and dedication to advancing their interests in Congress is reflected in his legislative record. As the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Defense Appropriations subcommittee, Senator Inouye helped advance a number of FRA-supported initiatives including full funding of the Defense Health Program and supporting increases in Active Duty Pay.

     

“Hawaii is home to thousands of veterans and military retirees,including service members and their families stationed at Pearl Harbor Naval Station, Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay, Wheeler Army Airfield, and Schofield Barracks. Senator Inouye has been a champion for his constituents, especially the veterans and retirees, and also military personnel nation-wide. The Association has been proud to work closely with him and looks forward to continuing this relationship for many years to come,” explained Kaye. “He is a strong ally, and appreciates the important enlisted perspective on issues being addressed on Capitol Hill.”


Senator Inouye is a veteran of World War II and the recipient of the Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest award for valor. He was also the first Congressman from Hawaii, having been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1959, and the first American of Japanese descent to serve in either Chamber of Congress. In 1962 Inouye was elected to the Senate and is currently serving his seventh consecutive term.


Senator Inouye is an honorary chairman of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund (PHMF), which seeks to construct a new Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum and Visitor Center. Due to severe deterioration, the current USS Arizona Memorial Museum is sinking and, unless corrective action is taken, it will be lost within the next decade. The current museum also suffers from a lack of sufficient space to display all of the artifacts that have been donated. The museum was originally designed to accommodate 2,000 visitors daily, but currently receives over 4,500 visitors per day, resulting in severe congestion.


FRA strongly supports the efforts of the Memorial Fund to construct a new facility to preserve and honor the memories of those who served and died at Pearl Harbor. To date, FRA has pledged to contribute $50,000 to the PHMF over the next two years. FRA Branch 46 is conducting two direct mail solicitations to the FRA national membership, and the first of these has enjoyed a high degree of response. Additionally, a related FRA organization, the Past Regional Presidents Breakfast Club, has donated $10,000 directly to the PHMF.


FRA established the Pinnacle Award in 1996 to honor members of Congress who have championed legislative initiatives to improve the quality-of-life for active duty, reserve and retired Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel and their families.


Past recipients of the Pinnacle Award include Senators Strom Thurmond, Ted Stevens, John McCain and John Warner, and Representatives Sonny Montgomery, Owen Pickett, Ike Skelton, and Walter Jones.


FRA is the oldest and largest professional military association representing Sea Service personnel. The federally chartered FRA is celebrating 80 years as the premier watchdog organization for safeguarding and enhancing military pay, health care and benefits by representing the concerns of its members before Congress and appropriate federal agencies. For more information about FRA, visit our web site at


www.fra.org

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