Manzanar Committee

*for Immediate Release*
April 21, 2005

Contact:
Juliet Wong
Phone: (626) 278-9944
Email: manzcomm@yahoo.com

Program announced for
37th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Manzanar Committee announces the program for the 37th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage to be held next Saturday, April 29, at the Manzanar National Historic Site.

Themed “Footsteps in the Hallway: The Effect of Internment on America’s Youth,” the program will feature authors Frank Chin (USA Ni Umarete Born in the U.S.A.: A Story of Japanese America, 1889 – 1947) and Jane Wehrey (Voices From This Long Brown Land : Oral Recollections of Owens Valley Lives and Manzanar Pasts); Campaign for Justice director Grace Shimizu and Cal State Long Beach Nikkei Student Union member Corey Miyano.

Music will be shared by Victor Silva (original composition inspired by the pilgrimage) and Grateful Crane Ensemble member Darrell Kunitomi. A roll call of all ten WRA camps will be followed by a traditional memorial Scottish hymn by Drew Anderson leading to the interfaith service at the cemetery. The pilgrimage will conclude with a gathering for all to participate together in traditional Japanese ondo dances.

The young adult/family discussion program, “Manzanar at Dusk” will take place this year at Lone Pine High School (538 S. Main Street in Lone Pine), beginning at 7:00 p.m. with the 40-minute version of “The Camp Dance: The Music and the Memories” by Grateful Crane Ensemble (sponsored by the Manzanar Committee, Manzanar History Association and Friends of Manzanar).

Other associated events during the weekend include a reception at the Eastern California Museum on Friday afternoon from 4 – 6 p.m. (sponsored by Friends of the Eastern California Museum) as well as screenings of the film “Music Man of Manzanar” featuring special guests Arnold and Brian Maeda on Sunday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and a weekend-long exhibit of works by renowned artist Henry Fukuhara at the Manzanar Interpretive Center.

The Manzanar Committee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, volunteer organization (Federal ID # 95-3078317) that depends on community support to hold its yearly pilgrimages to the Manzanar National Historic Site, where approximately 10,000 persons of Japanese ancestry were held without due process during WWII. For more information, email manzcomm@yahoo.com, call (626) 278-9944 or visit www.manzanarcommittee.org.

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