Annual Veterans’ Day Luncheon

On Saturday, November 14, 2015, the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum will host their annual Veteran’s Day Luncheon from 11:30 – 1:30 PM.

Each Veterans Day, the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum honors local Chinese American veterans for their commitment and sacrifice. Museum staff will serve lunch to veterans of wars from World War II through the present in the museum’s Asian Garden. An exhibit in the museum’s permanent collection will also share the contributions of Chinese American veterans and the history of the Flying Tigers, the first Americans to fight against the Japanese in WWII.

Before the United States joined World War II, the San Diego Chinese community was active in supporting Chinese resistance to the Japanese invasion. They collected money to fund the war effort and encouraged boycotts of Japanese goods. A couple hundred American airmen and support crew resigned from their posts in the American military to fight as mercenaries for China. The Chinese dubbed these men the “Flying Tigers” because their P-40 fighter planes were decorated with sharks’ teeth. An ongoing exhibit honors these and other distinguished veterans with historic photographs and memorabilia.

Prior to WWII, Chinese Americans faced a great deal of discrimination. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 made them the first group to be completely excluded from immigration. California laws forbade them to own land, marry other races or testify against white people in court. After so many Chinese served in the Second World War, Congress amended the War Brides Act to allow Chinese Americans to bring wives into the U.S.

The Chinese Historical Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Chinese and Chinese American culture and history. It is located in San Diego’s Asian Pacific Historic District, in the heart of Old Chinatown. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30-4:00 pm and Sunday 12-4 pm.  Admission is $2 per person and free for kids 12 and under.

Contact: Alex Stewart 619-338-9888, info@sdchm.org