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Birth of a new creed |
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July 21, 2000
WASHINGTON (AP) - The National Park Service has decided to retain a disputed "Japanese American creed" for a memorial to Japanese Americans who fought in World War II or were interned in camps. In a letter to one of the opponents of the inscription, parks Director Robert Stanton noted that the sponsoring foundation's board has repeatedly voted to include the words and they already have been sandblasted into a stone panel. "We must respect their views," he said. Stanton's letter, dated July 12, was made public by an opposition group that identifies itself with the address of its website: JAvoice.com. Group leaders said in a statement they were disappointed. They had gathered thethat I am an American citizen of Japanese ancestry, for my very background makes me appreciate more fully the wonderful advantages of this nation. I believe in her institutions, ideals and traditions. I glory in her heritage; I boast of her history: I trust in her future." In February, the board of the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation voted 27-6, with one abstention, to keep the inscription. John Parsons, associate regional director of the Park Service, confirmed the decision and said the stone panel is still in Cold Spring, Minnesota, where parts of the memorial are being put together before transport to a site near the U.S. Capitol. The foundation plans to dedicate it in November. |