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Image: Japanese-American Memorial (37622538)

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Description: Japanese American Memorial honoring those citizens who were interred in camps throughout the western US during World War 2. The inscriptions on the wall are the names of the camps with the numbers of people who were keeps interred in each respective one. Dedicated on November 9, 2000, this Memorial honors the loyalty and courage of Japanese Americans during World War II, commemorating not only the heroism and sacrifice of Japanese Americans who fought and died for their country, but it also tells the story of 120 thousand brave men, women and children who, despite the abridgement of their civil rights and even relocation to desolate camps, maintained their loyalty and supported their nation on the home front. It is an important story for all Americans. A central feature of the Memorial is a sculpture by Nina A. Akamu. With a height of 14 feet, the upper portions of the monument will be visible above the confines of the Memorial wall, symbolic of rising beyond limitations. The base of the sculpture is rough cut from green Vermont marble which has a beautiful serpentine texture. The identical position of the bronze cranes represents the duality of the universe. Their bodies are nestled side-by-side with their free wings pressed against each other, symbolizing both individual effort and and communal support, emphasizing interdependency. Their right wings are held flush to the sides of the base by an incuse strand of barbed wire. The birds have grasped the wire in their beaks in an attempt to break free. The sculpture is symbolic not only of the Japanese American experience, but of the extrication of anyone from deeply painful and restrictive circumstances. It reminds us of the battles we've fought to overcome our ignorance and prejudice and the meaning of an integrated culture, once pained and torn, now healed and unified. Finally, the monument presents the Japanese American experience as a symbol for all peoples.
Title: Japanese-American Memorial (37622538)
Credit: Japanese-American Memorial
Author: David from Washington, DC
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
License: CC BY 2.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
Attribution Required?: Yes

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