Fil-Am community activist, chronicler honored at memorial service

Sonny Izon’s widow, Kathryn, receives the Congressional Gold Medal from FilVetREP Chairman Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (ret.). Looking on are (from left) Juliet Izon, FilVetREP Board Member Lida Peterson and Laura Izon. CONTRIBUTED

WASHINGTON – Sonny Izon and wife Kathryn were waiting to board their flight in Milan, Italy on Oct. 25 last year after celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

They also attended a special screening of  “An Open Door: Holocaust Haven in the Philippines,” Izon’s award-winning documentary about the acceptance by the Philippines of more than a thousand Jewish refugees who were fleeing Nazi persecution in Europe before the outbreak of World War II.

The 76-year-old filmmaker, however, didn’t make it back to their home in Takoma Park, Maryland. He passed away on that day.

A founding member of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP), Izon was remembered lovingly by family members, friends and colleagues who gathered for a memorial mass on Sept. 14 at the University of Maryland Chapel in College Park – the same chapel where the couple exchanged vows 51 years ago.

Sonny Izon / CONTRIBUTED

FilVetREP Chairman Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (ret.) honored Izon as “our premier quintessential documentary filmmaker who contributed immeasurably to our group’s success in securing passage of the Congressional Gold Medal in 2016.”

Taguba presented the award of recognition to the Izon family during the personal reflections segment following the Mass. Izon’s wife Kathyrn, daughter Laura and granddaughter Juliet, accepted the medal, commemorative coins and other mementos.

“This is all in remembrance of a truly honorable man,” Taguba said, prompting a standing ovation.

In his remarks, Taguba noted how Izon was “up front and center in producing a series of documentary films to enable our group to show members of Congress why they should approve the Congressional Gold Medal for the soldiers whose interminable service and sacrifice saved our country.”

Taguba added, “Sonny had a deep personal association with the compelling and powerful story of the Filipino Veterans experience since his father was also involved in fighting the Japanese invaders.”

Taguba described Izon’s professional work in the oral history segments of FilVetREP’s educational program, www.dutytocountry.org.

Kathryn also provided voice narrations in some of the videos in the online program featuring 30 interview sessions with living veterans and family members.

“Sonny was everywhere in his remarkable and personal contributions to elevate and present the incredible contributions of Filipino and American soldiers who were denied their promised entitlements and compensations when Congress passed the Rescission Acts of 1946,” Taguba said.

“Without Sonny’s personal involvement, creative film producing experience, and persistent efforts, FilVetREP would not have accomplished its mission of securing national recognition of our veterans.”

Among Izon’s other notable contributions  as “a pillar of community activism” was his documentary “Untold Triumph,” a story of Filipino soldiers in California and Hawaii, who enlisted and made their way to the Philippines in 1944-45.

He also lent his documentary skills in chronicling 100 years of the Filipino American story. “Singgalot,” the 2006 Smithsonian Centennial Commemoration  exhibit, celebrated Filipino Americans’ struggles, challenges and achievements.