NEW ORLEANS (May 10, 2018) – Pan-American Life Insurance Group has donated $1 million to The National WWII Museum in New Orleans to support the institution’s Virtual Field Trip “Los Veteranos: Latinos in World War II.” To commemorate the donation, a reception will be held in the Museum’s Louisiana Memorial Pavilion on May 15 at 6:00 p.m. In addition to the Field Trip, the gift also sponsors the Pan-American Life Insurance Group World Map in the Museum’s Louisiana Memorial Pavilion.
“Los Veteranos: Latinos in World War II” is an interactive, live-streamed educational program exploring the WWII experiences of Latino veterans and Home Front workers, and their postwar fight for equality in the United States. The gift helps provide free program access to students across the nation during National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) and will feature closed-captioning for those whose first language is Spanish, as well as those who are hearing impaired. Over 6,000 students have already participated in the Virtual Field Trip.
“As a company founded in New Orleans with deep ties to Latin America through inter-American trade initiatives, we are delighted to support The National WWII Museum in their efforts to share the experiences and contributions of Latinos involved in the war,” said José S. Suquet, Pan-American Life’s Chairman of the Board, President & CEO. “Our company’s founders played an important role on the Louisiana Home Front – most notably, encouraging the public to purchase war bonds and helping coordinate volunteer, civilian defense efforts. We felt this was a great opportunity to celebrate that shared history and help preserve it for future generations.”
Over 500,000 Latinos – including 350,000 Mexican-Americans and 53,000 Puerto Ricans – fought in desegregated units throughout the European and Pacific theaters, and 13 Latinos earned the Medal of Honor for their heroic service during World War II. Additionally, Latinos’ fluency in Spanish and translation skills proved invaluable during combat operations throughout Europe, in the Pacific, North America, the Aleutians and the Mediterranean. These service members were among the first to land on Italian soil, suffering heavy casualties, and were vital in defense of the Philippines and New Guinea.
After the war, returning veterans and Home Front workers faced discrimination for their minority status despite their sacrifices. Latino leaders joined together to push for equal rights in health care, education, labor agreements and in the court system.
In addition to the Field Trip, Pan-American Life’s gift to the Museum will provide sponsorship of a dynamic, two-story world map, educating visitors on the global expansion of Axis powers and the events leading to Allied victory. As a centerpiece display in Louisiana Memorial Pavilion, the Pan-American Life Insurance Group World Map – standing 49 feet high and 28 feet wide – highlights six key points in WWII history from 1937 to 1945 and complements the Museum’s powerful images, video and artifacts used to tell the story of the Allied nations’ fight against world aggressors.
“We greatly appreciate Pan-American Life Insurance Group’s generous donation to further the educational mission of the Museum, and are grateful for their long history of community leadership,” said Stephen J. Watson, President & CEO at The National WWII Museum. “During World War II, Pan-American Life organized vital Home Front initiatives and economic programs that were critical to the success of our war efforts. We are proud to partner with them as we continue to tell the complete story of the American experience in the war that changed the world.”
“Los Veteranos: Latinos in World War II” Virtual Field Trip is part of the Distance Learning Program at The National WWII Museum. Virtual Field Trips are guided by Museum educators and allow students in classrooms around the country to explore chronologies, strategies, motivations and outcomes behind fascinating chapters of WWII histories.
What:
Pan-American Life Insurance Group Donor Reception
When:
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
6:00 p.m.
Where:
The National WWII Museum
Louisiana Memorial Pavilion
Andrew Higgins Drive between Camp and Magazine Streets
CONTACT:
Keith Darcey
Public Relations Manager
keith.darcey@nationalww2museum.org
o: 504.528.1944 x488
c: 504.250.2929
Pan-American Life Insurance Group is a leading provider of insurance and financial services throughout the Americas that has been delivering trusted financial services since 1911. The New Orleans-based Group is comprised of more than twenty member companies, employs more than 1,950 worldwide and offers top-rated individual and/or group life, accident and health insurance, employee benefits and financial services in 49 states, the District of Columbia (DC), Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The Group has branches and affiliates in Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and 13 Caribbean markets, including Barbados, Cayman Islands, Curacao and Trinidad and Tobago. For more information, visit the Pan-American Life Web site at palig.com, like us on Facebook @PanAmericanLife, follow us on Twitter @PanAmericanLife, and connect with us on LinkedIn at Pan-American Life Insurance Group.
The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world—why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today—so that future generations will know the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as America’s National WWII Museum, it celebrates the American spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifices of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and served on the Home Front. The 2017 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards ranks the Museum No. 2 in the world and No. 2 in the nation. For more information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-528-1944 or visit nationalww2museum.org.