can organizations, Asian American leaders and elected officials. • Photo by Ron Chew
Approximately 150 community members gathered on February 25 in Hing Hay Park on a rainy, blustery afternoon to remember the 10 Chinese American World War II soldiers who died in battle as well as others who sacrificed their lives in subsequent wars.
The event, sponsored every year by the Cathay Post #186 of the American Legion, drew dozens of relatives of the deceased, representatives of prominent Chinese American organizations, Asian American leaders and elected officials. The Seattle Chinese Girls Drill Team performed to kick off the program.
Flowers and wreaths were laid at the foot of the large granite memorial in the Park. Etched on the memorial are the names: Yeu Louie, Lee Hong Chew, Bok Hong Chin, John Chinn, Bing Poy Wong, Henry Farren Goon, Chris Y. Chen, Lawrence Lew Kay, Thick Yuen Look and Lock Moon Kwong.
This year, the program was headlined with a brief speech from Seattle City Mayor Katie Wilson. King County Chief Executive Officer Hyeok Kim spoke on behalf of County Executive Girmay Zahilay. Other elected officials in attendance included State Senator Bob Hasegawa, Seattle City Council member Eddie Lin and State Representative Janice Zahn.
Noticeably absence were World War II veterans. Bill L. Chin, the last World War II Chinese American veteran in Seattle, passed away on March 13, 2025, three months shy of his 100th birthday. Chin was a lifelong member of the Cathay Post, first established in 1946.
Post officers are planning to mark the organization’s 80th anniversary with public events later this year.
