Special Remarks by Governor, Gary Locke for KAVA
2003 KAVA Convention opened at the Christian Faith Center, Seattle Washington. Governor, Gary Locke, Consul General, Jae-Kouk Kim, and Mayer of Seattle, Greg Nickels, Washington State 21st District Senator, Paull Shin, and many other officers and were attended 2003 KAVA Convention. King 5 Reporter, Elisa Hahn started opening ceremony and Welcome Remarks were given by KAVA President, Cheryl Lee for 2003 KAVA Convention.

2003 KAVA Convention was phenomena and was excellent convention with the following: Presentation of Flags were given by Federal Way Fire Department,
Moment of silence & Invocation was given by Rev. Chang Moon,
National Anthem "The Star Spangled Banner" solo by Soon Cho, Mezzo-Sop,
Video Greeting by Senator Maria Cantwell,
Dance "The Creation" by Morning Star,
We are one in America by Multiculture Assemble,
Congratulatory Greetings were given by President, Greater Seattle Chapter
of the Organization of Chinese Americans; Mei-Ling Hsu, and
President, Seattle Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League; Tatsuo Nakata.
Special Addresses were given by
Hon. Gary Locke (Governor of Washington),
Hon. U.S. Congressman Jay Inslee, and
Hon. Greg Nickels (Mayor of Seattle).

Governor Locke addressed that his parents worked 14 hours a day, 7 day a week and did not have any vacation and he remembers his parents taking US citizenship test. His mother seriously has taken on her role and duty as a new citizen and still takes her obligation. He related that was the America experience as a child of immigrant, and His family and all of ours family have traveled same journey. Also he mentioned that the immigrants have powerfully transform and define this great United State America, and that's how America progress has made. Govenor Gary Locke emphasized that This Country was shape and changed by the blood sweat and tears of Native Americans and Immigrants. His comments about "Immigrants came here voluntarily or came involuntarily first as slaves and wave after wave of immigrants have renewed and reached American Dream" were moving ! He started his remarks as congratulated Korean American's 100 anniversary of immigration to the United State of America and He closed by congratulating Korean American Voters Alliance on honoring this first 100 years and affect responsible civic action. Governor, Gary Lock encouraged KAVA to "Be proud and continue the great work. Engage our fellow citizens. You are doing more than empowering Korean American to vote. You are empowering your members of your community to be part of political system. That's what democracy in this great nation is all about." As soon as He finished his remarkable remarks and congratulated KAVA, The audience raved within enthusiasm !

Gary Locke was elected Washington's 21st governor on Nov. 5, 1996, making him the first Chinese-American Governor in U.S. history. On Nov. 7, 2000, Locke, a Democrat, was reelected to his second term. Locke has worked to make Washington a better place to live, work and raise a family by: Making our schools the best in the nation, Strengthening our state's economy with an efficient, effective transportation system and business climate, Making state government more accessible and user-friendly while ensuring it delivers to taxpayers the services they most need at a reasonable and sustainable cost.

Born into an immigrant family on Jan. 21, 1950, Locke spent his first six years in Seattle's Yesler Terrace, a public housing project for families of World War II veterans. He worked in his father's grocery store and graduated with honors from Seattle's Franklin High School in 1968. Then, through a combination of part-time jobs, financial aid and scholarships, Locke attended Yale University, where he received his bachelor's degree in political science in 1972. After earning a law degree from Boston University in 1975, he worked for several years as a deputy prosecutor in King County, prosecuting people for crimes such as robbery and murder. In 1982, Locke was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives, where he served on the House Judiciary and Appropriations committees, with his final five years as chairman of the House Appropriation Committee.

Reported By: Catch4all.com, Positive Site:Sandra Englund September 8, 2003.