Boston Ceremony Awards Congressional Gold Medal to Chinese American World War II Veterans

BOSTON — July 22, 2026 — Boston honors Chinese American World War II veterans with Congressional Gold Medal at Faneuil Hall. Dozens of veterans and next of kin received the nation's highest civilian honor at the New England Regional Chinese American World War II Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony, organized by retired Major General William S. Chen, the first Chinese American two-star general in U.S. Army history. Governor Charlie Baker delivered the keynote address, joined by Mayor Kim Janey, who issued a City of Boston Proclamation designating October 16, 2021, as World War II Chinese American Veterans Day, and Congressmen Stephen Lynch and Mark Takano, who presented the final medal to General Chen on behalf of his father, Moon Chen, Army Air Forces. Lynch noted that of the more than 20,000 Chinese Americans — roughly 20 percent of the total Chinese American population — who served in World War II, nearly 40 percent were non-citizens at the time of enlistment. Two Bronze Star Medals were also presented posthumously, including to Private First Class Thomas S.F. Chinn of the 42nd Infantry Division for service in occupied Europe in January 1945.