January 2009
Volume 10, Issue 1
ASIAN AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 56652 Chicago, IL 60656-0652 E-mail: aaleachgo @ aol.com
AALEA Officers
HAN KIM, President
Chicago Police Department
NORMAN KWONG, Vice President
Chicago Police Department
THOMAS FREITAG, Secretary
Chicago Police Department
BORAM KIM, Treasurer
Illinois State Police
Board Members
PATRICIA CARRASCA
Chicago Police Department
SUN WING LEUNG
Chicago Police Department
KENNETH PANG
Chicago Police Department
DALE WING
Chicago Police Department, (Ret.)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Jan 13th - AALEA Monthly Meeting
at the C.P.D. 020th District
Jan 24th - Asian Lunar New Year
Dinner
NEXT MEETING
Our next meeting will be on
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at
7:30 p.m. in the CAPS meeting
room at the Chicago Police
020th District located at 5400 N.
Lincoln, Chicago IL 60625. We
are asking members to remember
their dues for 2009 this meeting.
Member of the
NATIONAL
ASIAN
PEACE
OFFICERS
ASSOCIATION
N E W S L E T T E R
Thomas Freitag EDITOR
The Asian American Coalition of
Chicago (AACC) is sponsoring the 26th
Annual Lunar New Year Celebration on
Saturday, January 24, 2009, at 5:30 PM,
at the Hyatt Regency of O’Hare located
at 9300 Bryn Mawr Ave. Rosemont, IL.
Tickets are $80 per person. AALEA
reserves two tables for our members on a
first come, first served basis and pays
half the price of the ticket. This year’s
event will be hosted by the Korean
American Community which has thrice
before (in 1985, 1993, and 2001) hosted
this event. Come celebrate the year of
the Ox! Buy your tickets soon, as this
event sells out quickly! AALEA will not
hold tickets. For more information
contact Treasurer Bo Kim
borakim77@yahoo.com or Board
Member Patricia Carrasca
aaleachgo@aol.com
Condolences
With many heartfelt thoughts
and deepest sympathy, we wish
to extend our condolences to
Tom Moy and his family on the
passing of his mother, Ruth
Moy, in November. Tom Moy is
a retired U.S. Postal Inspector
and has been a key member of
our organization holding the
post of President for two terms.
Our prayers and thoughts are
with Tom and his family.
Fascinating Facts
Mozart was only 5 years old
when he wrote the music of
“Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
Dale Wing ASST. EDITOR
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
AALEA welcomes our newest members
Edwin Dantes, CPD
James S. Kurth, CPD
Chy C. Ly, CPD
Enrique P. Molas, CPD
Laura G. Yukawa, CPD
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to our Treasurer,
Boram Kim, an Illinois State
Trooper, who was one of three State
Troopers selected from District
Chicago to attend the presidential
inauguration in January. It is a great
honor to represent District Chicago
at this historic event.
Congratulations Bo!
THE NEW YEAR
Its been a few years but we have started
our newsletter again. We want to be sure
that all of our members receive it and ask
that if you change your address, unit of
assignment, phone numbers, e-mail
address, etc., to please contact Secretary
Tom Freitag, so your information can be
updated. Please send information such
as promotions, retirements, birthdays,
and any other announcement you would
like to see in the newsletter. Maybe you
would like to place an ad in the
newsletter or have something to sell.
Also, please remember your dues as it is the
new year! $25.00 for one year and $100.00
for a five-year membership.
AALEA WEBSITE
Our website is still under construction,
so please bear with us a little while
longer. We are hoping to have it up and
running within the next couple of
months.
 PAGE 2 AALEA NEWSLETTER VOLUME 10, ISSUE 1

October 9, 2008

Held at Valley Lo Club in Glenview, IL, many of our members, distinguished guests, families and friends, made this event a
wonderful celebration. Lively entertainment and delicious food added to the enjoyment. AALEA recognized many of its members,
who have volunteered their time throughout the years, for their community service in which AALEA was involved. AALEA would
also like to extend their appreciation to the members who assisted in making the celebration a great success. Below and on the next
page are some pictures of the event. Unfortunately, space does not allow us to show all of the pictures that were taken.

A special cake designed for this occasion President of AALEA, Han Kim, during opening remarks

Director of the Illinois State Police, Larry G. Trent Secretary of State, Jesse White and Mayors’ Office Deputy Chief of Staff, Gene Lee

Dragon dance performed by members of the Chinese Gong Fu Institute Performers from the Cambodian Association of Illinois
PAGE 3 AALEA NEWSLETTER VOLUME 10, ISSUE 1

Working the reception desk Han Kim being interviewed by KBC-TV (Korean TV) Meeting of the minds

A Filipino group, Transfiguration Dance Troupe, performing Pakistani performers from the Volta Elementary School Dance Group

Some of our members and guests enjoying good company A great time was had by all

Members and guests enjoyed an absolutely wonderful dinner Numerous Community Service Awards were handed out
PAGE 4
CHALLENGE COINS
AALEA now has challenge coins that
can be purchased for $10.00. On one
side of the coin is the AALEA logo
established 1983 and the NAPOA logo
on the other side of the coin. These are
great souvenirs to have and a must if
you are a member of AALEA or a
collector. To purchase a challenge coin
contact Board member Sun Wing
Leung. (AKA “Winger”)
Quote of the Day
The reward of a thing well done,
is to have done it
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
The National Association of Asian
American Professionals (NAAAP),
through the generosity of Verizon, is
offering six scholarships, each worth
$4,500 to Asian American students
with the most innovative ideas on how
to create, support and nurture more
leaders within our Asian American
communities. For application and
eligibility requirements go to website
http://www.naaap.org/scholarship Two
Letters of Recommendation are re-
quired:
1. Academic School Teacher/
Advisor
2. Community Service Leader/
Organizer
Applications and recommendations
must be submitted online by no later
than 11:59 pm (EST) on Saturday,
January 10, 2009.
AALEA NEWSLETTER VOLUME 10, ISSUE 1
History of Challenge Coins
World War I
During World War I, American volunteers from all parts of the country filled the
newly formed flying squadrons. Some were wealthy scions attending colleges such as
Yale and Harvard who quit in mid-term to join the war. In one squadron a wealthy
lieutenant ordered medallions struck in solid bronze carrying the squadron emblem
for every member of his squadron. He himself carried his medallion in a small leather
pouch around his neck.
Shortly after acquiring the medallions, the pilot's aircraft was severely damaged
by ground fire. He was forced to land behind enemy lines and was immediately
captured by a German patrol. In order to discourage his escape, the Germans took all
of his personal identification except for the small leather pouch around his neck. In
the meantime, he was taken to a small French town near the front. Taking advantage
of a bombardment that night, he escaped. However, he was without personal
identification.
He succeeded in avoiding German patrols and reached the front lines. With great
difficulty, he crossed no-man's land. Eventually, he stumbled onto a French outpost.
Unfortunately, the French in this sector had been plagued by saboteurs. They
sometimes masqueraded as civilians and wore civilian clothes. Not recognizing the
young pilot's American accent, the French thought him a saboteur and made ready to
execute him. Just in time, he remembered his leather pouch containing the medallion.
He showed the medallion to his would-be executioners. His French captors
recognized the squadron insignia on the medallion and delayed long enough for him
to confirm his identity. Instead of shooting him, they gave him a bottle of wine.
Back at his squadron, it became a tradition to ensure that all members carried
their medallion or coin at all times. This was accomplished through a challenge in the
following manner: a challenger would ask to see the coin. If the challenged could not
produce his coin, he was required to buy a drink of choice for the member who
challenged him. If the challenged member produced his coin, the challenging member
was required to pay for the drink. This tradition continued throughout the war and for
many years after while surviving members of the squadron were still alive.
Palms Hotel
The 2009 NAPOA Conference will 4321 West Flamingo Road
be in Las Vegas, Nevada this year . Las Vegas, Nevada 89103
This event will be hosted by (866) 942-7770
NAPOA along with co-hosts: August 9-14, 2009
National Association of Asian Registration Fee : $395.00
(Register by July 31, 2009)
American Law Enforcement For more information and
Commanders (NAAALEC) registration application, go to
Federal Air Marshall Service www.napoaonline.org
United States Secret Service
REGISTER TODAY!