Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation

by Cathy Huang

Hundreds of visitors to Angel Island this past Saturday did more than just explore the Immigration Station and join tours. They filled the spaces between the buildings with stories. On September 8, 2012, the Angel Island Immigration Station hosted Phase II of its Immigrant Heritage Wall dedication. We welcomed hundreds of families from all corners of the United States to celebrate with us as we unveiled a second stretch of plaques engraved with the names of immigrants for whom the island holds special meaning. Phase I of the wall, dedicated in July 2011, proved to be only the start; plaque requests poured in and families excitedly made travel plans for Phase II.

We are saddened by the sudden loss of former Angel Island detainee and docent volunteer Dale Ching. He passed away on August 6 at the age of 91.

Dale was a valued member of the AIISF family. He will be missed.

AIISF’s annual event will feature the third annual Immigrant Heritage Awards this year with the theme of “An Evening in the Splendors of the Forbidden City.” It will be held at the Hilton Financial District in San Francisco (750 Kearny St) on September 2012 at 6 PM. Honorees include the Chinese Hospital Health System, author and community volunteer Linda Frank, “mentor capitalist” and president of TiE Silicon Valley Vish Mishra, and San Francisco Ballet principal dancer Yuan Yuan Tan. The night's emcee will be broadcast journalist Thuy Vu.

Parking is available at the Hilton for $5 self park or $20 valet.

In addition to the award ceremony, we will have a number of wonderful raffle, live and silent auction prizes. These include a “Best of SF” package with breakfast with Mayor Ed Lee and a suite at the Hilton Financial District plus gift certificates for a spa, restaurants, and opera and museum tickets; a New York travel and accommodations package including airfare courtesy of Southwest Airlines; a private tour of Hearst Castle with accommodations; a Waikiki vacation package courtesy of airfare from United Airlines, hotel stay and round of golf; and an exclusive America’s Cup overnight stay and tour on Angel Island September 14-15, 2013. For more information or possible proxy bids, call Grant Din at AIISF at 415-262-4433.

Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation and Angel Island State Park will be celebrating the dedication of the Immigrant Heritage Wall, Phase II, on September 8, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.

PROGRAM AND SEATING

There will be a special free open house of the Immigration Barracks and a program featuring families sharing their immigrant heritage stories and celebrating their ancestors’ lives at the Immigrant Heritage Wall itself. This wall includes hundreds of names of immigrants, many of whom passed through Angel Island, and their stories. The open house will be available both before and after the dedication program, which begins at 1:30 p.m. Please prepare for festival style seating, you are welcome to bring low profile folding chairs or blankets.