gotohealth's Blog

 

To the organizers and volunteers who organized the 2024 Minidoka Pilgrimage:

 

Over 9000 were incarcerated in Minidoka and could only bring what they could carry, with as little as 1/16th Japanese blood after Executive Order 9066 was signed by President Roosevelt, on February 19, 1942 because of political reasons. No one of Japanese heritage, here in the USA, were legally found to have reason for the incarceration. 

 

Impressed with how I was taken care of!!  I was tested positive for Covid on Sunday morning as we were about to load busses for the trip back to Seattle. Those of us with Covid had our own Infirmary Bus. THIS IS TRUE COMPASSION! It needs to be put into a story?? What is it in our heritage that inspires all of you to give your time and energy to this event? When we got to Yakima to change drivers, Tony wouldn’t take “I don’t know" for an answer when he asked me, “Will I see you next year?"

 

Every step of the way, I was constantly asked by all the young volunteers, if I needed anything and such.  A half dozen of us decided to have dinner on Friday night,  at IDAHO JOE's and Dale Watanabe arranged for the bus and driver to be our “taxi” to dinner! Nothing like the homemade, with extra flaky crust, Boysenberry pie with Ice cream that we shared!”

 

David Sakura was one of the speakers and 27 or 28 members of his Sakura clan came from all over the US to support him. According to one of the nieces, "...because this may be one of his last.". His nephew, Fred Sakura”s Dad, Chip, was one of my Dad, Sago Miyamoto’s, best friends from Eatonville High School.  Fred says he was 1-yr-old when they went to camp. Our family had moved out to Idaho area in 1937 and we were not incarcerated. But I remember when I was 4-yrs-old, we visited Minadoka and slept on the floor with blankets in their barrack. 

 

Kay Endo, also one of speakers, talked about being in the 4th grade class taught by the Murakami Sisters from Higo 10 Cent Store. He said, "The Porland kids and the Seattle kids kind of didn't get along, but “Q-Ball”, George Kiuchi was always pleasant to everyone.".  I see George, who was my husband’s good friend on the Chihara Bowling Team here in Seattle. I see George regularly at the Nisei Vet’s lunch once a month and will share that he was talked about. Keith Yamaguchi who organizes the Nisei Lunches was also at the Minidoka Pilgrimage as he has been one of the organizers all these years.

 

Polly Shigaki attended my session about OMOIDE and how we are collecting STORIES OF CAMPASSION of people "who helped each other" - also from the general community - during the hard times of discrimination and incarceration. My Aunt Ethel was so grateful for help from the Shigaki family because she was so poor. She was their “house girl” and was given sewing lessons by Mrs. Shigaki, before WWII. Aunt Ethel sent them an Easter Basket every years and Polly’s husband John agreed that was a highlight in their after incarceration years as he was growing up. Polly took me aside later at one of our Minadoka events and says she wants to come to some of our OMOIDE writing classes that we have at the JCCCW, in Seattle, the third Saturday of every month, starting at 1pm.

 

Thanks for a wonderful memorable event, gang, and for all your work! Had a great time!