Sunflower Ceremony Closes Ashland Vigil for Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Jill Mackie and Linda Richards, 10.08.2010 06:06
Following a weekend of vigil in memory of the horrific atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 65 years ago came Monday's closing ceremony in Ashland's Lithia Park. In the Japanese Garden sunflowers were carefully placed one at a time in a pool of running water to signify a future free of nuclear horror. The sacred event was highlighted for all as Nancy Spencer played "Where have all the flowers gone" on her saw.
Vigil organizer Jill Mackie read the following letter from her Daughter Linda Richards who has been attending 65th anniversary events in Japan:
Jill Mackie reads linda Richards' letter
From: Linda Richards
To: Jill Mackie
Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 6:46 AM
Subject: Re: Our evening
I can't imagine a sadder day, but also a more hopeful one, with the UN Secretary promising the hibakusha that he will not ask them to wait any longer for disarmament, and the Mayor of Hiroshima saying that the Hibakusha need to have disarmament now so they know they fought to stay alive for a reason.
Tonight I was so proud to hang our cranes at the Sadako statue and they were one of the prettiest sets! My love to you and now our vigil is really connected to the official one, i am so amazed at how we had caught the spirit of it so well all along. I sat near Jackie Cabasso and my friend Manuel, three rows behind them our whole course was invited to sit as Koko Tanimotos guests. It was so completely overwhelming and exciting to feel so close to progress on disarmament, what a perfect moment for me to be here.
I listened to testimony of Hibakusha for part of the rest of the day, I cried for all of us!!!
Tonight after I hung the cranes I made a lantern with Manuel Pino (famous Acoma Pueblo anti mining activist) and the Japanese coordinator of Friends of the Earth Japan. I stood in line an hour to float it, and it was worth it. I said many many prayers with my heart and my feet.
Thank you so much for keeping the Ashland vigil going and the Mayor of Hiroshima was so pleased when I said we had had a continuous vigil for 25 years. Love love love all prayers with you too! linda
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For 1st time US Govt. Sent Rep. 11.08.2010 - 00:20 You may have heard that the Obama administration sent a representative to Japan for the Hiroshima/Nagasaki ceremonies. Acknowledgment is a first step. "The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice" - MLK Bending Toward Justice>  Homepage:: http://
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