We have a Congressional Gold Medal of Honor recipient in the family! Dr. Atagi will be out of the office at the end of October as she travels to Washington D.C. with her family as her father, Dange Raymond Atagi receives his medal.
The Congressional Gold Medal of Honor is the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress to an individual who performs an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity and national interest of the United States. Each medal is uniquely created and specially produced by the United States Mint.
George Washington was the first ever recipient followed by such illustrious names in history as the Wright brothers, Thomas Edison, Rosa Parks, The Tuskegee Airmen, to name a few.
Mr. Atagi is receiving the award in recognition of his service with the all Japanese American 442nd Infantry Battalion during World War II. The 442nd is the most highly decorated regiment in the history of the United States armed forces, including 21 Medal of Honor recipients. The unit was a self-sufficient fighting force, and fought with uncommon distinction in Italy, southern France and Germany while many of the soldiers’ family members were subject to internment at home.
