After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the US government made the decision to relocate all persons of Japanese heritage in the coastal states to Relocation Centers. They were forced to abandon their business and homes They packed what they could carry and were moved to relocation centers. Most were American citizens. They had no idea what to expect.
They were placed in barracks and there were rows and rows of barracks. There were communal toilets, kitchens, and bathing areas. It was windy, cold, and desolate. They were surrounded with barbed wire for their safety. But the guards were holding firearms towards them; not towards potential intruders.
Eight persons - related or sometimes not - were placed in each 20x20 ft room. For three years. No schooling was planned for the children. Thankfully, teachers volunteered to go to Manzanar to teach them. Of the ten camps in the US, this location had the only orphanage.
The Japanese people are very close with nature. They planted crops and became self sustaining. They brought the apple and pear orchards back to life. They fashioned furniture out of the fruit crates. They even made a pond for the serenity water allowed them.
Manzanar is Spanish for apple orchard. Our friend Doug from the River would sing a song by the same name. I had no idea we would visit the very place of this sad tale.
http://www.metrolyrics.com/manzanar-lyrics-tom-russell.html
The day we toured Manzanar was the 47th Annual Pilgrimage. The families of those interned at the camp, college students, and activists attended the memorial. There were speeches and stories. As we walked around, we over heard a man share his father's experiences there. How they stuffed tin cans in the holes in the wall to keep out the blowing sand. How they saw stars through the ceiling. How they hung up blankets in the rooms for privacy.
Although it can be a beautiful locale, the weather is harsh. The wind never stops howling. When the detainees were released after 3 years, they each were handed $25. Families had suffered dearly and children grew up thinking this type of life was normal.They did not complain or protest, as it was not the Japanese way. In 1988 each remaining survivor was awarded a settlement of $20,000.
From Mount Whitney at 14,505 ft elevation to Lone Pine at 3727 ft to Badwater 282 ft. below sea level. We went from (viewing) the tallest peak to the lowest place in the contiguous 48 States.
We love experiencing National Parks and National Monuments! We fully support them by purchasing an annual pass for $80. If you are 62 years old (or disabled) you can purchase a LIFETIME pass for $10.
Death Valley National Park is huge. We had originally planned to enter from Nevada, but we change our plans all the time and found ourselves coming in from the California side instead. Upon driving in we went over a couple of 5000 ft. passes and then descended into the valley.
Rolling sand dunes, evidence of erosion to the nth degree.
We drove to the lowest place in the United States; Badwater Basin.
You walk out the boardwalk on the salt flats.....
...turn around and look back to the mountains surround you over 6000 feet straight up.
We took in Devils Golf Course
And drove through spectacular Artists Palette
Then we drove to Dante's View. You can see where were just standing at the salt flats of Badwater below.
This is the parking lot at Dante's View.
Twenty Mule Team. How in the world could anyone work here year round? In the heat of summer it's 134 degrees.
After the mules came the steam engine. Those palm trees in the distance are part of a Golf Course in Furnace Creek. I didn't expect that at all!
Back at our place, I've made friends with the resident cat; BC. We really like this RV Park. The employees are so friendly and the place is very clean. Pool, jacuzzi, coffee and home made muffins every morning. We've been here for a week and would recommend it.
No comments:
Post a Comment