Good morning ladies and gentlemen,

My name is Debbie Seeman Bishop, youngest daughter of Willy and Trees Seeman. I am here today, on the 60 th anniversary of the end of WWII in the former Dutch East Indies, to represent my generation to all of you, who have survived, and to honor those who did not. I personally can not imagine what happened in the Dutch East Indies. I have read about it, heard stories, and seen movies about the occupation. It is quite difficult to know that young boys were separated from their mothers, years of school, and the joy and friendship that goes with that was missed, property and wealth were taken. Rations of food, lead to hunger, with mothers sacrificing for the sake of their children. The joys of youth were replaced with fear sorrow, illness, anguish, and even death. In August of 1945, you were freed. But that freedom was not free. That freedom cost some their youth, their health, their wealth, their education, and their lives. As survivors you started a new life. Having the opportunity to migrate to the United States, another foreign place, you once again, started a new life, as survivors.

Here in the United States you brought your Dutch Indonesian Culture, your values and your vigor for survival.

Here I am, proudly, 2 nd generation AMERINDO.

When asked my nationality, I answer Dutch Indonesian, 2 nd generation. And with that, always comes a short story. I always explain the Colonization, WWII occupation and Indonesian Revolution. And every once in a while, I get a response “I knew someone like that”. I feel it’s my duty, as well as it is an honor to share my heritage. That out of the horrors of war, occupation and prison camps, came a strong community of survivors. All with a history that binds them together. It is the culture and history that I am proud to be apart of, and respectfully pass that culture on to my children.

As a member of this generation, I would like to pay my sincerest respects for all of those who lost their lives in the war against Japan in the Dutch East Indies and other areas of South East Asia. I would like to also express my deepest gratitude and respect for those survivors. Today, we celebrate your freedom.

I want to thank you for the opportunity to honor you today.