I almost decided not to post this. Usually I try to keep things upbeat overall, but visiting Manzanar today made me sad. Still….the voice of the past is speaking to my heart, and perhaps I need to put it out there.
We stayed in Lone Pine an extra day because of icky weather to the north where we will be heading. Tomorrow will be better for traveling. With the extra day, I decided to visit Manzanar, a few miles north of Lone Pine.
In 1942 Manzanar became a ‘War Relocation Center.’
It’s one of 10 ‘centers’ across the US where 120,000 people were sent just because they were Japanese. 70,000 of them were US citizens.
These people had days…a few weeks at most….to wrap up their affairs and prepare to leave their homes, jobs, farms, schools, and even their pets. No pets allowed. Ten thousand people were moved to Manznar. They were only allowed to bring what they could carry. Everyone wore a numbered tag to camp. They lived in these camps for over 3 years.
Manzanar was about a mile square and it contained 36 ‘blocks’ and in most blocks, about 300 people lived in 14 barracks.
There were mess halls where everyone waited in line 3 times a day for meals, laundries, and latrines. The recreation hall had space for classes and churches. As time went on people built furniture from scrap wood, started gardens, orchards and made ponds.
They were surrounded by guard towers and barbed wire fences.
Walking around the visitor center and driving around the self guided tour I felt sad. I didn’t feel like taking many pictures.
When World War II ended, the people were released and went back to….what? Their homes, farms and businesses had been sold by the government ‘to pay for their care’ over the 3 years. The government also tore down most of the buildings at the camps (only 3 original buildings remain at Manzanar), buried the gardens…tried to bury the memories. But the memories and the stories live on in the people. The cemetery is still there.
“I have come to a conclusion after many, many years that we must learn from our history and we must learn that history can teach us how to care for one another.”Rose Hanawa Tanaka
Let It Not Happen Again
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I don’t want to end with that….it makes my heart heavy….so I’ll show you the sky….
Last evening at sunset.
And I wanted to mention that the dog park here at Boulder Creek RV Resort in Lone Pine is the best I’ve ever seen at an RV park!
It’s about 60 x 160 feet I think, with double gates at each end, trees, and 2 picnic tables.
When I took the pictures Joy and Shiloh were the only ones here, but at other times they had the company of 4, 5, and 6 other dogs. So nice to be unleashed in a large and safe enclosure.
Tomorrow we head north again, to escape the upcoming heatwave!
Wandering Spirit 
Very sad. But important to share. Thank you for the sky shot too.
Glad you understand Dawn. Yes the sky…amazing!
I’m glad you posted this, even though it makes my heart sad. I had never heard of Manzanar & am glad to know, though it’s hard to believe how often we humans do such atrocious things to one another. But, as you have done, back to a happy note…..the sky is beautiful, and I know Joy and Shiloh had to be thrilled with the dog park!
I know Pat….did we learn about this in high school American History? I realize I didn’t learn much in history class, but I don’t remember A word about the rounding up of 120,000 people in the US and confining them. Probably denial because it sounded too much like something else that was going on in another country during the same time frame….
Love the sky…the sunsets and sunrises.
One last trip to the dog park this morning with our walk, then we’re outta here.
Thank you for this post. As sad as it is we need to be reminded every now and then. Especially enlight of the current presidential election coming up. Hoping history like that will never repeat itself!
Safe travels
Cheryl ,Tennessee
You and me both Cheryl.
Interesting to read this because we tend to forget about unpleasant things in our history. There is a site here on Bainbridge Island to remember the Japanese who lived and worked here who were taken away in March of 1942. BIJAC has a wall and information about this tragedy. Even though I was only 2 I remember my father holding possessions for his friends who were being sent away. I was amazed that Manzanar was so close to us in California.
Hi Elinor, you know I saw where it mentioned the Japanese people from Bainbridge Island were taken to Manzanar. I thought of the farmers market we were at while I was there last year and the Japanese lady you were talking to there about a plant you wanted. I wondered if her family had been taken, and managed to get back afterwards. I wondered why there isn’t more resentment among the Japanese people now.
Sad for sure. Government. I just shake my head.
Hard to understand sometimes Cindy. Or impossible….
I don’t suppose any of us who weren’t around then can imagine the fear Americans felt after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Since there were rumors of plots among Japanese-Americans to sabotage the war effort, Democratic President Roosevelt signed an executive order which forced all Japanese-Americans, regardless of loyalty or citizenship, to evacuate the West Coast. Given the atrocities committed by the Japanese, (example, the Rape of Nanking in 1937) one can understand the fear. It doesn’t make the internment camps right, but those were the times. I feel I should tell you that my parents emigrated to this country when I was a child so I am not an American by birth and understand how it feels to be an immigrant. From my parent’s stories, I also cannot understand how the British and the Europeans came through WW2 mentally intact. My parents lived in London which was bombed day and night for 6 years. The entire world was in turmoil. Allied soldiers captured by the Germans and the Japanese went through horrors that many did not survive. I simply cannot imagine, so I will not judge.
Hi Eileen, so glad you commented here.
It’s a mess, isn’t it…war and the results thereof. I don’t know what the answers are, except what we all ‘know’ and that is to love each other. That can be easier said than done. But the things that divide us….color,race, country, wealth, religion, politics….one coming from elsewhere might wonder so many things.
How does anyone in a war torn country survive mentally? It’s all very very ugly, and one would wonder why being right could be so important among people who think they are educated, sophisticated, civilized. Sometimes those are words that mean nothing.
Such a tragedy. The saddest part of all – well, two parts, really – that they were parted from their pets, and that their worldly goods and property were stolen by the very government that stole those years from their lives.
Virtual hugs,
Judie
It’s painful to think about it Judie, much less to have lived through it. 😦
Whew, I started at the beginning and just caught up! I have really enjoyed your journey thus far. We still work, me as a medical transcriptionist, started at a hospital in 1973 and have worked from home since 1988. We hope to retire in a year or so but now get the motorhome on the road several times a year. We have a 6.7 pound Yorkie. I found your blog through RVSue.
Whew, just finished reading from the beginning; found you through RVSue’s blog. I have been a medical transcriptionist since 1973 and have worked from home since 1988. We hope to retire in a year or two. As of now, our motorhome gets out several times a year. I thought I had posted a comment last night but don’t see it.
Hi Denise in Georgia, it was because the message had to be ‘approved’ and I am camping now where there is no wifi and no AT&T. I’ve come to Mammoth today to post a blog, catch up on comments, and get groceries.
So sorry there was a delay! I’m glad you found me through RVSue! Sounds like your retirement will be well deserved…that’s a lot of years you have put in!
Well, I can tell you, and I’m sure you already figured it out….RVing with a 6.7 pound Yorkie will be a breeze compared to my two 70-80 pound Goldens, though the love, I’m sure, is the same!
Thanks for explaining! We have had two other Yorkies, got each a six weeks of age and they lived to be 14 and 16. They loved to travel in the MH. This one is a rescue and is now 3; however, she has gotten sick on several trips so we give her a tiny bit of a sedative. I hope once we start going a lot she will get used to it with just her Thunder Vest. Of course, she has to sit in my lap or outstretched legs with feet resting on the dashboard. She is spoiled rotten.
Hi Denise, also I meant to say WOW you read from the beginning. Wow! I know there are over 200 posts… It’s like reading a book! Thank you!
😀😀. Sounds so cute all stretched out while traveling. Shiloh usually watches out the window and I keep them part way open. But then he starts to fall asleep and his head droops lower and lower, poor guy! I think he feels like he should be stand ing guard. Joy used to also, but now she’s very relaxed and lies down to sleep.
History….I always taught my kids at school that we study history so we won’t repeat it. This is a perfect case in point. Jay we never reduce ourselves to this again. It saddened me just reading it.
That is a wonderful dog park!! Loved the pics of the sky and the beautiful cloud formations!!
Hi Gerri, hopefully we learn our lessons. It’s good to hear that you taught that way.
Best RV park dog park I’ve ever seen!