Welcome to the 68th issue
of the Yee Fung Toy Global Village Voice, an electronic
newsletter for the World Yee community. In this issue we
are featuring Summer activities from the Yee family
associations around the world.
Globally, as of 4:34pm
CEST, 15 September 2021, there have been 226,236,577
confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 4,654,548 deaths,
reported to WHO. As of 15 September 2021, a total of
5,634,533,040 vaccine doses have been administered.
The Delta variant,
originally known as B.1.617.2, has been around since
late last year but in recent months it has become
speedily dominant in many countries. It accounts for
more than 80% of newly diagnosed cases in the US,
according to the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. "COVID-19 cases have increased over 300%
nationally from June 19 to July 23, 2021, along with
parallel increases in hospitalizations and deaths driven
by the highly transmissible B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant,"
the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said
in a Health Alert Network advisory this week.
Everyone
should wash his/her hands often, avoid close contact
with people who are sick, cover his/her mouth and nose
with a mask when around others. The World Health
Organization Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for
the public web site provides some useful information,
please click here.
Many
countries around the world are now experiencing
different measures in an attempt to enforce social
distancing to slow the spread of Covid-19. They range
from ending mass gatherings, closing public spaces like
leisure centers, pubs and clubs to closing schools and
in some places a total lockdown with people forced to
stay indoors.
We thank all those who
have made contributions to this issue, including:
- Dick Yee, Ron Yee, Allan Yee of Detroit
- Jim Yee, James Yu and George Yee of Vancouver
- Worachai Aurprayoon and Fook Biu Yu of Thailand
- Frank Yu and Roger Yu of Houston
- Paula Yee of Boston
- Woo Peng Kwang, Peter C.K Yee and Woo Soi Muay of
Singapore
- Bing Kai Lee, Johnson Yee and Danny Wei Ming Yu of
Hong Kong
- Yu Ze Xin, Jie Feng Yu, Jian Qiáng Yu of DiHai,
China
- Dr. David Yee of Sacramento
Martin Yee, Vancouver
Singapore Yee Clan Afternoon Trip to
Fort Canning Park and the Singapore River
On May 8th,
25 members of the Singapore Yee Clan took an
afternoon Trip to Fort Canning Park and a cruise
along the Singapore River.
It was
raining at four o'clock that day, but the clan
reported at Fort Canning subway Park MRT station on
time.
In the
drizzle up the mountain, a tour guide for each group
of five members, to tell the historical story of the
area.
Woo
Peng Kwang, Singapore
In Memoriam of Dr. Herbert K. Yee
Sadly
Grandpa has passed away after a life well lived on
June 26th, 2021. He was 96.
He was past
Yee Fung Toy Family Association Headquarters, USA
President and Grand Elder.
He was very
proud to have been Grand President of the Yee Fung
Toy Family Association, and follow in his father's
(Dr. Henry Yee) footsteps. He always told me that he
was nothing compared to his father, who was the only
Grand President elected to two terms.
The
Sacramento Bee published an article on July 9th on
him, for more details, please click on this link.
Above are
some of Grandpa's favorite pictures, Dr. Henry Yee
(Wai Duc), Grandpa, Great Grandma (Hum Wee Fong),
Grandma (Inez), and my Dad (Randy) in the Governor
Pat Brown's office. Grandpa with Governor Reagan at
the time.
Never
forgetting his roots, he was the first overseas
Chinese to build a school in China near his village
in Toishan in 1981, and later a cultural center and
library in 2007. The above photo is an exterior shot
of the Toishan School (from its grand opening
celebration taken in 1981) where there is a picture
of Ronald Reagan and Grandpa on the 3rd floor.
Among all
his accomplishments, Grandpa Herbert took the most
pride and joy in his family and instilled in them a
great respect for their heritage. Married to his
wife for over 70 years, he had four children, nine
grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren.
Herbert was preceded in death by his brothers Paul
Yee and Calvin Yee; sisters Song Lew, May Tam, and
Phyllis Yee; and wife Inez Fong; and his sons Robert
"Randy" Yee and Douglas Yee. He is survived by his
brother Franklin Yee; sister Carolee Lim; and sons
Alan (Helen) Yee and H. Wesley (Nancy) Yee;
daughters-in-law Elaine Yee and Karun Yee; and his
grandchildren, Thomas Yee, David Yee, Candice Yee
Chen, Michael Yee, Melissa Yee Littau, Darren Yee,
Debra Yee Balagtas, Juliana Yee, and Kevin Yee.
A funeral
service was held at East Lawn Memorial Park on July
3, 2021. A celebration of his life will be held in
the future. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests
charitable donations to the Asian Community Center,
Sutter Medical Foundation, California Museum, and
the California State Railroad Museum Foundation..
David Yee, Sacramento
NE YFT 2021 Summer Outing
On July 31
YFT Boston enjoyed our summer outing at AmVets Post
79 in Natick. Over 100 members and their families
came to enjoy delicious food, which included hot
dogs, hamburgers, pizzas, chicken, pasta salad,
watermelon and ice cream. Lots of raffles and games
were enjoyed by old and young.
Grand
President Kenneth and Elder Peter made generous
donations for the game prizes.
Everyone
left with full stomachs and numerous prizes. It was
a nice reunion and first gathering since COVID.
Paula Yee, Boston
Houston Yee 2021 Scholarship
Presentation and Picnic
The 2021
Houston Yee Scholarship picnic was held at the
Memorial Park of Sugar Land, Texas on Saturday,
August 7th.
It was a
sunny morning with a much-needed summer breeze.
There were
eight Yee scholarship recipients: names are as
follow: Karissa Lew, Kyle Lew, Noah Tien, Kailee
Yee, Remy Yu, Sophia Yu, Susan Yu and Grace Yee.
The total
Yee turns out were lower than expected, (No thanks
to COVID). For ones that attended, they were treated
to Rudy’s BBQ. We all had a great time.
Thank GOD
for holding off the afternoon storm until we home
safe!
Roger Yu, Houston
New England Yee Fung Toy 2021
Scholarship Awards
On Sunday
August 15, YFT of NE honored and distributed
scholarship checks to our 2021 students. Fourteen
deserving students received the undergraduate
scholarship and one student received the special Gen
Yuen Graduate Degree scholarship, offered to us by
the late Gen Yuen Yee’s family.
The day
began by having all the students arrive to the
Association where they met with executive members of
YFT and they were provided with a brief history of
YFT. Then everyone went over to Empire Garden where
they met the remaining YFT officers and the family
members of the students.
A total of
60 people were in attendance for the special evening
and the awards were handed out to each student and
everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner.
Paula Yee, Boston
Detroit Yee Fung Toy Family
Association Summer Picnic and Scholarship Event
On August
29, 2021 we celebrated our Yee scholars with the
first post pandemic Detroit Yee Fung Toy Family
Association Summer Picnic and Scholarship Event. The
day was bright and sunny and the food and treat were
delicious.
In 2020,
our annual picnic was canceled due to the COVID-19
pandemic, however we were the only YFT-USA chapter
to hold a "Virtual" ZOOM Scholarship event that was
attended by family members from 9 states and Canada
last year.
Although
our 2020 event was very successful, we missed the
joy and fellowship of our family members. This made
our 2021 Picnic and Scholarship Event that more
important and special for everyone.
To recognize
members that have been vaccinated, we had the first
free COVID-19 VACCINATION RAFFLE. The only criteria
to be included in this free raffle was to have a
valid vaccination card.
We had five
(5) Grand prizes of $100 each, five (5) additional
grand prizes of $20.00 each, and everyone else was
awarded a $5.00 prize.
Photos courtesy of Ron Yee.
Allan Yee, Detroit
Congressional Gold Medal Presented to
Chinese American WWII veteran - Lewis W. Yee
Senior
Advisor of the Houston Yee Family Association, a
native of Houston, was among the four surviving
Chinese American veterans of World War II and others
were presented with one of the nation's highest
civilian honors, a congressional gold medal on
Sunday, September 5, 2021.
The event,
hosted by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance
Southern Regional Congressional Gold Medal
Committee, recognizes the veterans who are from nine
states including Texas.
Retired
Army Maj. Gen. Robert Lee was among those who helped
celebrate the occasion.
This
recognition comes 76 years after the end of World
War II.
"I am
really honored to serve my great country," recipient
Lewis W. Yee said.
To Uncle
Lewis Woo Yee（余厚義）:
We are thankful for your service and for the freedom
we enjoy!
Roger Yu, Houston
The next issue of
the Yee Fung Toy Global Village Voice will be
published in mid December, 2021, featuring current
events and activities of the Yee Fung Toy
associations across the world. Please submit your
articles to the Editor via email (world.yee @
gmail.com) or postal mail (The Editor, 226 East
Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6A 1Z7) by
November 15.
