World War II Commemorations

Every year, the Tigard Library and the Oregon Holocaust Resource Center present a talk on the anniversary of Kristallnacht, which is believed to be the first Nazi attack on Jews to begin the Holocaust.  We went this year and heard Eva and Leslie Aigner, a lovely Oregon couple who are both Holocaust survivors.  They told their stories and especially emphasized the importance of never forgetting this genocide really happened, and recognizing that genocide continues to happen all over the world.  I brought Jasper because my father was a WWII veteran who fought in Germany.  Because of his faith, he could have been recognized as a conscientious objector, but he chose to serve in the army instead.  That choice had a huge impact on my father and our family.  I want Jasper to know something about this war and what that choice represented.  You can read all about WWII in books, but the chance to meet someone in person who lived through the holocaust and is actually willing to share their story is a chance that may not be available when Jasper is older. 

We also went to the Estacada Library to hear a talk by Mike Shibahara, a Japanese American who was

forced to leave his home in Hood River and placed in an internment camp with his family when he was three. He stayed there until he was almost seven.  I have never seen a talk on this subject offered before, and we were grateful for the chance to hear his recollections. This is an especially important event for Americans to remember, because it happened right here in our own country, to American citizens who had never shown any sign of doing anything wrong, let alone been given a trial.  Japanese citizens who moved to the United States were not allowed to become citizens, nor were they allowed to own property as non-citizens. His parents were orchardists who lost almost all their possessions and property as a result of their internment, although his mother was a citizen.  Mr. Shibahara's talk was full of warmth and humor, and pride both in being an American and in his Japanese ancestry. He recalled that while the internment camp was massively overcrowded with no opportunities for privacy, as a young child he really enjoyed having lots of other kids to play with.  So the experience was not as brutal for him as it would have been for his older siblings, or for his parents who lost most of their possessions and property.

Both of these talks gave us a lot to think about, and I'm really grateful for the chance to learn history directly from the people it happened to.

An actual notice explaining to Japanese in Oregon that they would be "evacuated."

A letter Mr. Shibahara received from President Bush with a reparation payment.