In spite of recent efforts to gradually ease restrictions on public gatherings and to reopen certain businesses that resulted from closures imposed by the novel coronavirus pandemic, a Northern California Memorial Day ceremony to honor Nisei Veterans of Foreign Wars on Monday, May 25, will be a virtual affair open to anyone anywhere with a broadband connection and a suitable device.
The webinar, which is free and open to the public, is set to take place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. PDT. The first hour is a memorial service sponsored by the JACL’s Northern California Western Nevada Pacific District and includes:
- Invocation by Rev. Henry Adams, San Mateo Buddhist Temple
- A message from Yves Bonjean, former mayor of Bruyères, France
- Keynote Speaker Marielle Tsukamoto (Sacramento, Calif.) reflecting on her visit to Bruyères
- A message titled “Memorial Day in the Time of COVID: Reflections by a Veteran,” by Military Intelligence Service veteran Dr. Shinye Gima of Honolulu
- Musical tribute by Todd Yuzuriha (Portland, Ore.)
The master of ceremony will be Steve Okamoto of San Mateo, Calif.
Hour two will be an educational program sponsored by the Hawaii-based 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans. It will consist of:
- Excerpts from “Back to Bruyères: The Legacy of the 100th” and interview with producer-editor Pamela Young
- Video from B Co./100Bn/442RCT Re-Enactment Group (Maizuru, Japan) and a message from Hidenori Koda
- Message from the Go for Broke National Education Center
- Music video and interview with Los Angeles-based musician Kaze Jones
The organizers said that while the program may be subject to change, it is free and open to the public. Registration is required to participate. To register, visit tinyurl.com/yamhx9y5
[Editor’s note: A recording of the event may be viewed here for Facebook users.]
