Photo By Sgt. Michael Iams | American veterans of the Battle of Okinawa lay a wreath before a portion of the...... read more read more
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The event represented the 65th anniversary of the conclusion of the Battle of Okinawa, one of the bloodiest battles of World War II.
Erected in 1995, Peace Memorial Park is located at the site of the last recorded fighting in southeastern Okinawa.
It stands as a tribute to the more than 200,000 Japanese, American, Korean, Taiwanese and British military and civilian personnel who perished during the battle.
Those paying their respects to the fallen placed flowers, origami cranes, food and bottles of water under their loved one's names at the Cornerstone of Peace - a stone monument bearing the 240,931 names of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice during the battle.
The large memorial ceremony, which included the presence of Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, featured a Memorial Day address, a peace declaration, an offering of flowers to the memory of fallen service members and the recitation of a peace poem and memorial messages.
Earlier in the day, in a small ceremony near the American portion of the cornerstone of peace U.S. service members who had lost their lives were recognized.
Surrounded by American service members, World War II veterans, civilians and the Honorable Raymond Green, American Consul General of Naha, Lt. Gen. Terry Robling, commanding general, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and commander, Marine Corps Bases Japan, spoke on behalf of the U.S. service members who lost their lives at a smaller ceremony afterwards.
"All Americans sleep peacefully because of the courage and commitment of these brave fighters who put it all on the line," Robling said.
"Because of their sacrifice, we can look forward to a peaceful future with Japan," Robling said.
Eighty-eight year old Teruto "Terry" Tsubota, who interpreted for American forces during the infamous battle, said the ceremony filled him with mixed emotions. The Pahoa, Hawaii, native was selected to fill the role of combat translator with the 6th Marine Division in 1945.
Hailed as a local hero, he is credited with saving the lives of thousands of Okinawans without firing a single shot by assuring them that they would not be harmed if encountered by the Americans.
"Coming to this ceremony every year makes me feel many things," said Tsubota, who has attended every Memorial Day ceremony at the park with his wife Kiyoko except one since it's inception in 1995.
"I am sad that so many lives were lost, but I am also happy that we all have come together to remember them," Tsubota said.
Jarrett Ota, director of United Service Organizations Okinawa and coordinator for the smaller American ceremony, said the fact that the memorial itself honors warriors on every side goes a long way to restoring the peace.
"This is an international memorial," Ota said. "The names of all nationalities that lost their lives are represented here, and it's a testament to the ultimate sacrifice each person made. It's sobering and inspiring all at once."
Coincidentally, this year's Memorial Day coincided with the 50-year anniversary of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, which provided the initial basis for Japan's security relations with the United States.
| Date Taken: | 07.02.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.09.2010 02:02 |
| Story ID: | 52556 |
| Location: | ITOMAN CITY, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 177 |
| Downloads: | 91 |
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