70 years after US occupation: Ceremony on Ie Island rejects war

70 years after US occupation: Ceremony on Ie Island rejects war

People offer incense, hoping for peace at Hokon no To Peace Memorial Ceremony. At Hokon no To tower in the Nishiemae district of Ie Village on April 21.


April 22, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

Ie Village held a peace memorial ceremony on April 21 at Hokon no To tower in Mura Nishiemae to mourn 3,500 villagers lost during the Battle of Okinawa. About 350 family members of the victims and villagers solemnly laid flowers in memory of the war victims and prayed for a peaceful world. Another memorial service was held on the same day at the Ie-jima lighthouse, which was destroyed during the war. The people working there and their families lost their lives.

A minute’s silence followed the sound of the ferry whistle at Ie Port at 1 p.m.

Village Mayor Hideyuki Shimabukuro stated, “We renew our hope for world peace, which is a wish shared by all human beings, without losing our memories of World War II.” Shimabukuro further talked about the conflicts happening around the world and stressed, “Ie Village rejects any form of war or terrorism.”

(English translation by T&CT and Sayaka Sakuma)

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