PEACE

The peace museum was easily one of the most well done museums I have ever been to. It did an excellent job of stating the facts in a clean and neutral way. It never put blame on any party. It clearly stated many times that both sides made mistakes. And now Japan's main objective for the future is:

PEACE

When we first walked up to the park this is what we found with a plaque that read: "The A Bomb dome is the ruins of the former Industrial promotion hall which was destroyed by the first atomic bomb ever to be used in the history of humankind on August 6, 1945.

"The Atomic Bomb detonated in the air at an altitude of approximately 600 meters almost right above the hall. The explosion of a single bomb claimed the lives of over 200,000 people and the city area of about 2-km radius was turned to ashes. In order to have this tragic fact known to succeeding generations and to make it a lesson for humankind, the reinforcement work of the ruins has been done by contributions of many people who desire peace within and out of the country. The ruins shall be preserved forever." August 6, 1967 Hirsohima City

This flame will burn until there are no more weapons of mass destruction.

Ultimately the reason why Hiroshima was chosen was because it was believed that it was one of the smallest cities that did not have a prisoner of war site with any of the U.S.'s Allies.

(Here is my little disclaimer: I know from this point on if you are reading it will be difficult. I am hoping you can enlarge your viewing window so you can read because there are a lot of powerful words.)

The museum also had plenty of stories of how the U.S. supported Hiroshima in different ways after the bombing. One story was flying women to the United States to help them with cancer treatments.

The smaller children that should have been killed at the nearby schools in Hiroshima had been evacuated. Many of the children that were evacuated were orphaned in seconds because the rest of their family was annihilated.

Many of the teenagers that should have been in school had been put to work instead. I read many stories of these children barely managing to walk home & then die in their parents arms.

As a teacher this was one of the most powerful things I have read. The truth is not always easy but it is the only thing that will set us free.

After this point in the museum there was a major break. Then you enter another hall & this is when it gets gut-wrenching. They have testimonials, pictures, leftover artifacts and everything else that instantly forces tears in your eyes.

It was said that no plants would grow, because of the radioactivity, for 75 years after the bomb was dropped.

This tricycle was of a little 3 year old boy who was killed. His father buried him in their backyard with his tricycle because he did not want him buried alone in a graveyard. Then 50 years later the father dug him up donated the tricycle to the museum and buried him with the rest of his family.

When you exit the Museum you can see the special statue that was created for Sadako.

I have been to concentration camps in Europe. I have seen plenty of other museums all over the world. This museum easily was one of the most powerful museums I have ever been to. It is incredible the way they transformed such a tragedy into a powerful positive message of peace.

The last monument I read as we left the whole park said: "Mourning the lives lost in the atomic bombing we pledge to convey the truth of this tragedy throughout Japan and the world pass it on to the future, learn the lessons of history, and build a peaceful world free from nuclear weapons."

No blame, just the facts, and a lot of hope.