Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Exclusion

Join Survivors, dignitaries, and community leaders as we commemorate the forced removal of the first Japanese Americans to be evacuated from the West Coast during World War II. Shortly after the signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, Public Proclamation No. 4 launched the forced evacuation and detention of Japanese American residents on a 48-hour notice. The Japanese Americans of Bainbridge Island were the first group to be evacuated to a partially constructed camp at Manzanar in the Southern California desert.

Speakers at the event include Governor Jay Inslee (a resident of Bainbridge), survivor Frances Kitamoto Ikegami, 4 student leaders from Woodward Middle School, as well as a roster of community leaders. The Commemoration will conclude with a reading of the 276 names on the Exclusion Memorial Wall. View the full Program here.

Parking at the Exclusion Memorial is limited. Drivers may drop off passengers at the bus drop off area, then proceed to the Park and Ride at Bethany Lutheran Church, 7968 Finch Road NE, where they can catch a complimentary round-trip shuttle ride to the Memorial. Click here for a full schedule. Departing shuttle service runs from 10 – 11 a.m. with return rides from 12:30-1:30 p.m. If you are a survivor, are transporting a survivor and/or require disabled parking, please contact Carol Reitz (425-765-9284, carolreitz@msn.com) to make special arrangements.

Survivor Luncheon
Survivors and their families are welcome to attend a complimentary luncheon at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, 550 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island, immediately after the commemoration program. Please RSVP to Karen Beierle (206-714-9887) or Lilly Kodama (206-842-2226) by Friday, March 25th to reserve your spot.

Additional Events on March 30th
A Japanese American Museum of Oregon representative will be on hand with a traveling vintage U.S. flag for survivors to sign. Stop by the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA) to add your signature.
The art of Chris and Jan Hopkins is on display at BIMA through June 12th, as part of the Executive Order 9066 at Eighty exhibit.
The Bainbridge Island Historical Museum is hosting tea and cookies from 2-4pm. The Museum has created a limited-time, special installation in the museum’s lobby to honor the 80th Anniversary. The exhibit will feature Exclusion period materials and photographs from the Museum’s collection. A recently restored original U.S. Army poster instructing Japanese Americans to leave the Island will be available for viewing. The Museum (206-842-2773) is located at 215 Ericksen Ave NE and is a short walk from BIMA.
Sakai Intermediate School will be conducting a special docent-led tour of its art collection from 4:30-5:30 p.m. The school is located at 9343 NE Sportsman Club Road.