Heart Mountain was one of ten War Relocation Camps for 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry during World War II. When I first read about this pilgrimage last month on my friend's Facebook post, I had to pause...Heart Mountain.
Memories came flooding back to me of my Uncle Ralph talking bitterly about being interned there with his family and other relatives. He lost everything when they were detained. Most tragically he lost his respect and dignity.
My father also told me his WWII story about being a medic with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana. He had wanted to join the army, but his father hadn't wanted him to. So, Dad became a medic. He once went on leave to visit his brothers and sisters at Heart Mountain. He said he couldn't believe what he saw - barbed wire surrounding the camp and armed guard towers. He asked a guard, "How come I'm fighting for my country and my relatives are in this place?" My father shook his head when he told me, "The guard couldn't answer."
As I was deciding whether I could commit to this trip, I noticed that tears fell from my eyes. My mind was trying to figure out something, but I hadn't even known what my body was feeling. I got up and did something else, and then I came back, sat down and thought about Heart Mountain again. Tears fell again. I decided that tears meant I must make this pilgrimage.
I'm curious about this place called Heart Mountain where some 10,500 people of Japanese ancestry were interned unjustly for three years. Many of my uncles and aunts and some cousins from Los Angeles suffered there. Something is pulling me there so I must go.
I am fundraising to help with the cost of my trip to Heart Mountain and back. My goal is $1,080. Whatever you can give will be gratefully accepted. Please click
here to contribute.
I've heard it said that pilgrimages are for healing. I'm hoping to find out what that means for me and share it with you through my writing.
Kokoro kara (from my heart),
June Yoshiko Kaililani Ryushin Tanoue
