On September 3, TECRO’s Veterans Affairs Division organized a solemn and significant Monument Unveiling Ceremony at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas. The event was presided by Mr. Chin-Kung Chen, Vice Minister of Veterans Affairs Council of the Republic of China (Taiwan). About 170 people attended the ceremony, including Ms. Ingrid D. Larson, Managing Director of American Institute in Taiwan/Washington Office, Ms. Yvonne Yi-Fang Hsiao, Director General of TECO/Houston, as well as representatives of Taiwanese overseas veterans’ associations from major U.S. cities, the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce in El Paso, Texas, and various mainstream American Veterans Organizations.
The monument honors 52 ROC Air Force martyrs who sacrificed their lives during air training in World War II and were laid to rest at this cemetery. In his speech, Vice Minister Chen said that the arrival of ROC airmen to the United States for air training marked the very beginning of the military cooperation between the two countries. From the Cold War era until now, Taiwan has stood firmly by the United States to face the challenge of authoritarian expansionism in the Indo-Pacific region. He also said that as a responsible stakeholder of the international community, Taiwan is dedicated to maintaining regional peace and stability, and Taiwan is willing to cooperate with more like-minded countries around the world to safeguard the common values of freedom and democracy.
Managing Director Ingrid Larson of AIT/W emphasized during her remarks that the ceremony provides an important opportunity to reflect on the strong and longstanding friendship and connections between the United States and Taiwan, emphasizing the rock-solid U.S.-Taiwan partnership and robust cooperation that continues today to strengthen regional stability and peace today.
Vice Minister Chen together with Ms. Ingrid Larson unveiled the monument and laid wreaths on behalf of both governments. Every participant laid a white flower in front of the monument, and then the ceremony ended with the playing of the taps. The WWII ROC Airmen Monument was funded by the Taiwanese overseas veterans’ community and was erected by the Veterans Affairs Division of TECRO, showing that the people and government of the Republic of China will never forget these heroes.
