During World War 2, citizens of Japanese descent were interned in camps around the United States.  Many were assembled at the Puyallup Fair grounds and lived in horse stalls and cow sheds for several months before being transported to internment camps.  Many young men would volunteer to serve in the US Army to fight with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.  The 442 was composed of Japanese Americans and is the most decorated unit it's size in US military history.  They earned over 4,000 Purple Hearts, 4,000 Bronze Stars, 560 Silver Star Medals, 21 Medals of Honor, seven Presidential Unit Citations, and many foreign medals.

Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) vets returned home after the war to find their homes looted or even burned down.  Even following the war, there was still a lot of resentment towards Japanese Americans.  Nisei veterans were banned from many VFW and American Legion Posts where Japanese were not welcome.  To  honor their veterans, the Japanese community created that Nisei Veteran's Committee, which has played a huge part in the Japanese American community. 

Each year, the Washington State House of Representatives honors the Day of Remembrance by starting off the meeting with a flag ceremony performed by the Nisei Veterans.