Graphic courtesy of NMPW
The National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW) in Fredericksburg, TX will be hosting its 4th Annual Day of Remembrance on Saturday, February 19, 2022 from 2:00 – 5:30 pm, both virtually and in the ballroom of the Historic Nimitz Hotel. The program will include (i) a talk by Ted Tanaka who was interned as a child in California, (ii) a screening of the documentary film “Alternative Facts: The Lies of Executive Order 9066,” and (iii) a Q&A session regarding legal issues raised in the film with attorney Hoyt Zia.
On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 which authorized the evacuation and relocation of persons from the West Coast who were deemed a national security threat. Over 120,000 men, women and children of Japanese ancestry, of which almost 70,000 were American citizens, were relocated to 10 internment camps scattered among remote areas of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming.* The evacuees were not charged with any crimes by the government, however, they could not appeal their incarceration. All of these families not only lost their freedom but most also their property, including land and homes. In 1988, Public Law 100-363 was passed in Congress in which the injustice was acknowledged and some restitution was provided.
*The Crystal City (Family) Internment Camp in Texas also housed Japanese American detainees, along with people of German and Italian descent. These internees were subject to several presidential proclamations and not directly related to Executive Order 9066.
The program is free however registration is recommended for in-person attendance and required for virtual attendance. Click the button below to register:
Ted Tanaka, a Japanese-American, born in Los Angeles, was a young child when he was interned with his immigrant parents at Camp Manzanar near Death Valley in south-central California. Today, Ted is a consultant in the international biotechnology industry and travels both domestically and internationally with his presentation of photographs and discussion of his family’s internment.
Attorney Hoyt Zia, having served as president of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area, the Asian Pacific Bar Association of California and was the founding president of the National Asian Pacific Bar Association, is well acquainted with the constitutional issues surrounding Japanese American internment during WWII.
The film, “Alternative Facts: The Lies of Executive Order 9066,” was created by Jon Osaki, who is quoted as saying, “My goal for ALTERNATIVE FACTS is to reveal the true events and influences behind the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans to encourage a truly informed public debate about how the country treats immigrant and religious groups today…”
About the National Museum of the Pacific War
The National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW), founded in 1967, is the only institution in the continental United States dedicated exclusively to a mission “to engage and inspire present and future generations with the story of World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and interpret the continued global relevance of its lessons.” The Museum annually welcomes more than 100,000 visitors, including at least 15,000 students from across the state. Spanning six acres in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas, the Museum features three galleries with more than 55,000 square feet of exhibit space, 40 media installations, approximately 900 artifacts, 15 macro-artifacts, and hundreds of photographs.
The Museum is a Texas Historical Commission Property, managed and supported by The Admiral Nimitz Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information, visit www.pacificwarmuseum.org. Follow the Museum on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Smithsonian Affiliations
Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program that develops long-term collaborative partnerships with museums, educational, and cultural organizations to share Smithsonian collections, build collaborative networks, and engage learners of all ages with Smithsonian resources. More information is available at www.affiliations.si.edu.