17 de diciembre de 2012
HONORING ROMEO BARRERAS
HON. DEAN HELLER
OF NEVADA
IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE
December 17th, 2012
Mr. HELLER: Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life of Pvt. Romeo Barreras, a Nevadan and Filipino-American World War II veteran, whose recent passing is a devastating loss to the Silver State. As a member of the “Mighty Five,” a group of veterans living in Las Vegas, Pvt. Romeo Barreras helped lead the fight to provide proper military recognition and compensation for nearly 24,000 Filipino World War II veterans. I am grateful for his service to defend democracy around the world and will continue to do everything within my power to ensure that Filipino veterans are honored for their sacrifices.
Pvt. Romeo Barreras fought bravely for our country and yet was not able to qualify for the military benefits he earned and deserved. That is why I introduced the Filipino Veterans Fairness Act, to establish a process for Filipinos who have fought alongside the U.S. military during World War II to work with military historians to determine eligibility for military benefits. We have a responsibility to ensure that individuals who served honorably alongside U.S. troops are recognized for their contributions to our nation.
I am humbled to have known Pvt. Romeo Barreras. It was a privilege to work with him on behalf of all Filipino American World War II veterans. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.
In memory of Pvt. Romeo Barreras, I will continue fighting to ensure that veterans and their families are properly thanked for their sacrifices. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering the life of an honorable man who was dedicated to providing justice for deserving veterans.