After Kylie's races, Ben and I walked over to the new Japanese Internment Memorial at Pritchard Park. I've been wanting to see if for a while, and Ben is studying the Internment in school, so it was the perfect opportunity.
First he stopped to climb some trees!
The memorial is located in the same location as the ferry landing where 227 Japanese residents were forced to leave the Island on March 30, 1942. It's a serene setting, perfect for strolling the path and contemplating the people whose lives changed so drastically that day.
There are several carved wooden plaques with stories of some of the people who were relocated. Ben paused at each one and we read them together. He was very interested and touched by the stories.
This plaque depicting the return is my favorite. I like to think that I would have been welcoming and supportive of the Japanese when they returned, would have taken care of their property and returned it to them in good condition. At least I hope that's what I would have done.
The sign when you walk into the memorial says in Japanese, "Let it not happen again." Amen!
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