Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Artist | Nina Akamu |
| Year | 2000 |
| Type | Bronze |
| Dimensions | 4.3 m (14 ft) |
| Location | Washington, D.C., United States |
| 38°53′40.28″N 77°0′37.76″W / 38.8945222°N 77.0104889°W | |
The Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II is a special place managed by the National Park Service. It helps us remember the brave Japanese Americans and their families who supported the United States during World War II. They showed great loyalty even though they were treated unfairly.
You can find this memorial in Washington, D.C., at Louisiana Avenue and D Street. It honors Japanese American soldiers and their strong loyalty during World War II. It also remembers the courage of those who were unfairly held in special camps during the war. These were called Japanese American internment or incarceration camps.
Contents
What the Memorial Looks Like
At the center of the memorial is a bronze sculpture called "Golden Cranes." It shows two beautiful Japanese cranes tangled in barbed wire. They sit on top of a tall, square base. The base has lines that look like marks from cutting stone.
Around the sculpture, there is a curved granite wall. This wall lists the names of the ten main camps where over 120,000 Japanese Americans were held. The wall also has three other sections:
- Names of Japanese Americans who died fighting in World War II.
- Writings by Japanese American authors like Bill Hosokawa.
- Quotes from presidents Harry S. Truman and Ronald Reagan.
How the Memorial Was Made
The idea for this memorial started in 1988. It came from a group called the "Go For Broke" National Veterans Association Foundation. This group later changed its name to the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation (NJAMF). Architect Davis Buckley and sculptor Nina Akamu were the main designers.
Building the memorial on federal land was approved by law on October 24, 1992. President George Bush signed this law. It was meant to "Commemorate the experience of American citizens of Japanese ancestry and their parents who patriotically supported this country despite their unjust treatment during World War II."
The first ground was broken for the memorial on October 22, 1999. The memorial was officially opened on November 9, 2000. A celebration for its completion happened on June 29, 2001.
Before creating the "Golden Cranes" sculpture, Nina Akamu visited the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin. She spent time there studying and sketching cranes. This helped her create the perfect centerpiece for the memorial.
The memorial was officially given to the United States Government in 2002. The National Park Service is now in charge of taking care of it.
Meaning Behind the Memorial
The cranes in the sculpture rise above the memorial walls. This shows how people can rise above difficult situations. Their poses mirror each other, with one wing pointing up and the other down. This represents the balance of the universe. The birds press against each other, holding onto the barbed wire. This shows how individuals try to break free, but also how important it is to have community support.
There is also an "Honor Wall" inside the memorial. It lists the names of over 800 Japanese Americans who died fighting in World War II.
The National Japanese American Memorial Foundation says the memorial has a deep meaning. It shows how people can overcome painful and difficult times. It reminds us to fight against ignorance and prejudice. It also shows how a culture, once hurt, can heal and become unified. The memorial uses the Japanese American experience as a symbol for all people.
Honoring Veterans
The memorial honors Japanese American veterans who served in World War II. These include soldiers from the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service.
The 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team became the most decorated unit of the war for its size. This means they earned the most awards for their bravery and service.
Together, the 442nd and the 100th Infantry Battalion earned many awards. These include seven Presidential Unit Citations and 21 Medals of Honor. They also received thousands of other medals, like Silver Stars and Purple Hearts. On November 2, 2011, 40 Japanese American veterans received Bronze Stars they had never gotten before. A year earlier, President Barack Obama signed a law to give the Congressional Gold Medal to the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This honored their dedicated service during World War II.
Dedication Ceremony in 2000
The U.S. Department of Defense described the memorial's dedication on November 9, 2000. They said "Drizzling rain was mixed with tears streaming down the faces of Japanese American World War II heroes." About 2,000 people attended the event. They came to honor the bravery and sacrifice of Japanese Americans who fought for the U.S. They also honored the more than 120,000 men, women, and children who stayed loyal even while imprisoned in camps.
Rudy de Leon, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, spoke at the dedication. He pointed out a sad irony: Japanese Americans from the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion were among the first troops to free prisoners from the Dachau concentration camp. At the same time, some of their own family members were held in camps back in the United States.
United States Attorney General Janet Reno also spoke. She shared a letter from President Bill Clinton. He wrote that "We are diminished when any American is targeted unfairly because of his or her heritage." He added that the memorial reminds us that "stereotyping, discrimination, hatred and racism have no place in this country."
About the Sculptor, Nina Akamu
Nina Akamu is a third-generation Japanese American artist. She created the "Golden Cranes" sculpture, which is the main part of the memorial.
Nina Akamu has a personal connection to the memorial's story. Her grandfather was arrested in Hawaii during the internment program. He was sent to a camp on Sand Island in Pearl Harbor. He had diabetes and died from a heart attack three months into his imprisonment. This family history, along with growing up in Hawaii and seeing a Japanese American war memorial in Italy, deeply inspired her work on this project.
Words on the Memorial
The memorial has important words carved into its stone. Here is some of the main text:
| Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II |
|---|
|
On February 19, 1942, 73 days after the United States entered World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. This order led to the removal of 120,000 Japanese American men, women, and children from their homes in the western states and Hawaii. Families were allowed to take only what they could carry. They had to leave their homes, friends, farms, and businesses. They were forced to live in ten distant relocation centers. These camps were guarded by armed troops and surrounded by barbed wire fences. Some people stayed in these camps until March 1946. Also, 4,500 people were arrested by the Justice Department and held in internment camps, like Santa Fe, New Mexico. Another 2,500 were held at a family camp in Crystal City, Texas. Even with this unfair treatment, young Japanese Americans joined the military. The 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team fought in Europe. They became the most decorated army unit for its size and length of service in American military history. Japanese Americans in the Military Intelligence Service used their language skills. They helped shorten the war in the Pacific and saved many American lives. The 1399th Engineer Construction Battalion helped build important structures for the war effort. In 1983, almost 40 years after the war, a federal commission studied what happened. They found that there was no military reason to imprison so many Japanese Americans. They said a great injustice had been done. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. This law apologized for the injustice. It also provided a small payment and confirmed the nation's promise of equal justice for all Americans. |
Other important quotes are also carved on the memorial:
|
May this memorial be a tribute to the strong spirit of citizens in World War II who kept their faith in our democratic system. Norman Mineta, who was held at Heart Mountain, Wyoming. I am proud that I am an American Mike Masaoka, a civil rights leader and staff sergeant in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Our actions in passing the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 are important. They give strength to our constitutional system and support our tradition of justice. Robert T Matsui, who was held at Tule Lake. The lessons learned must remain as a serious reminder of what we must not allow to happen again to any group. Daniel Inouye, US Congressman, US Senator, and Captain of the 442nd Regional Combat Team. You fought not only the enemy but you fought prejudice – and you won. Keep up that fight and we will continue to win to make this great republic stand for what the constitution says its stands for the welfare of all of the people all of the time. President Harry S. Truman, July 15, 1946 (from his speech when he honored a Nisei Regiment). Japanese by Blood This is a Tanka poem, a classical Japanese poetry style. It was written by Akemi Dawn Matsumoto Ehrlich and is called "The Legacy." |
The names of the ten main internment camps and how many Japanese Americans were held in each are also carved on the memorial:
| Internment Camp | Number of People | State |
|---|---|---|
| Poston | 17,814 | Arizona |
| Heart Mountain | 10,767 | Wyoming |
| Topaz | 8,130 | Utah |
| Jerome | 8,497 | Arkansas |
| Manzanar | 10,046 | California |
| Rohwer | 8,475 | Arkansas |
| Tule Lake | 18,879 | California |
| Minidoka | 9,397 | Idaho |
| Gila River | 13,348 | Arizona |
| Amache | 7,318 | Colorado |
