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MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

[ Proclamation No. 624, August 1, 1995 ]

AUTHORIZING THE UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN THE PHILIPPINES-NORTH LUZON (USAFIP-NL) VETERANS AND HEIRS FOUNDATION, INC., TO CONDUCT A FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN FOR A PERIOD OF ONE (1) YEAR

WHEREAS, among the well known Filipino guerrilla organizations during World War II was the United States Army Forces in the Philippines – North Luzon (USAFIP-NL);

WHEREAS, the said USAFIP-NL successfully carried out sustained guerrilla operations against the enemy occupation forces in the then eight provinces of Northern Luzon which are now the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Mountain Province, Benguet, Ifugao, Apayao and Kalinga;

WHEREAS, the said unit was mainly responsible for a number of decisive battles and skirmishes with the enemy, one of which led to the capture of Besang Pass in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, on 14 June 1945;

WHEREAS, the said guerrilla unit was also credited with the military operations that eventually led to the surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita, Commander of the 14th Japanese Imperial Army in the Philippines in September 1945;

WHEREAS, the valor, gallantry and heroism of the men and women in the USAFIP-NL have yet to be memorialized in a fitting monument for the younger generations to remember and to emulate;

WHEREAS, a parcel of public domain has been proclaimed in the Municipality of Luna, Province of La Union, as the site of the National USAFIP-NL Military Shrine and Park;

WHEREAS, plans and specifications for the said National USAFIP-NL Military Shrine and Park have been drawn and are awaiting implementation;

WHEREAS, funds are needed to start, complete, and maintain this laudable project;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby authorize the USAFIP-NL Veterans and Heirs Foundation, Inc. to conduct a fund raising campaign for a period of one year, effective from the promulgation of this Proclamation, to raise funds to establish a USAFIP-NL Memorial Shrine and Park in the Municipality of Luna, La Union.1aшphi1

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 1st day of August in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Five.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS

By the President:

(Sgd.) RUBEN D. TORRES
Executive Secretary

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