Ambassador Kenney’s Remarks at
the Celebration of the Signing of the United States Stimulus Law Pertaining
to Filipino Veterans Benefits
Malacañang, Manila
February 23, 2009

 

Ambassador Kenney greets Filipino World War II veterans and their family members following the ceremony at Malacañang on February 23.

As delivered

 

Good morning.  Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines; His Excellency,  Albert Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs;  Members of the Cabinet;  Distinguished Members of Congress, Veterans, Families.

This is an exciting day for us.  It takes us back to a day many, many years ago when a friendship as so many great friendships are, was tested.  And friendships, whether we think peoples or nations, show themselves in difficult times.  It’s easy to be a friend when everything goes well, but,when a true friend counts, is under pressure and under test.  The veterans here today stood up to that test.  As a group, their friendship cemented the extraordinary relationship between the United States of America and the Philippines, as they stood side by side with their American counterparts to keep this beautiful country free and safe.

And as individuals, the veterans here before us, and so many others and their family members, risked their lives to help individual American soldiers whether on the death march through Bataan or out in the fields of Luzon.  Americans and Filipinos stood side-by-side.  The service of these veterans is a debt we can never repay.  But, today we mark an exciting new chapter in recognizing, yet again, that great service.  The United States of America has exactly one office overseas.  The Veterans Affairs that is located here in the Philippines and that is precisely to give service to the veterans’ community.  Today, as we embark on an exciting new chapter, to give you more service and more recognition, it is the right time to honor, not only a great friendship, but also the men and women whose heroism allowed us to stand here today as free people able to choose our own destiny.   From the very bottom of our hearts, we thank you, and all the many others that you represent.  As the daughter of a U.S. veteran, I thank you for the services, like my late father, have given to all of us.  It is a debt that we can never repay.  Maraming Salamat.          

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