November 1, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Bruce Embrey, Co-Chair
Kerry Cababa, Co-Chair

MANZANAR COMMITTEE SUPPORTS CONFINEMENT SITES LEGISLATION

On November 1, the Manzanar Committee announced their support of Public Law 109-441, an act providing for the preservation of the historic confinement sites where Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II.

“The Manzanar Committee welcomes the passage of Public Law 109-441 and the opportunity to provide input into developing the guidelines for the grant program that the law has established,” said Bruce Embrey, Co-Chair of the Manzanar Committee.

Founded more than three decades ago, the Manzanar Committee worked to establish Manzanar as a California State Historic Landmark, a National Historic Landmark, and ultimately, as a National Historic Site.

The Committee believes it is essential that the historic nature of each camp be recognized and that facilities be established at these sites to tell the story of the incarceration of the Japanese American community.

“The Manzanar Committee fully supports all efforts to preserve each camp, as well as other sites used during the internment,” said Embrey. “That said, we believe the most important task will be to maintain and expand the existing facilities being administered by the National Park Service.”

“Supporting and expanding these facilities will ensure the most developed and established sites can continue to effectively explain the camp experience,” added Embrey.

The Committee also stated that funds distributed under the grant program created by the legislation should be used only to acquire property at the camp sites, to preserve the sites and to develop educational facilities and materials for use at the sites.

“It is our firm belief that these grants should be used for the purpose of acquiring, preserving and developing facilities at the original sites at Amache, Gila River, Granada, Heart Mountain, Jerome, Manzanar, Minidoka, Rohwer, Topaz and Tule Lake, as well as development at the assembly center sites, Department of Justice camp sites, and other sites used to imprison Japanese Americans,” Embrey stressed. “To be sure, there is nothing more effective, educational or moving than seeing where history was made—at the camps themselves. That said, we would also support use of the grant funds for projects proposed by the site(s) where interested parties work in conjunction with them to inform the American people about the camp experience.”

“The Manzanar Committee fully supports the implementation of Public Law 109-441 and looks forward to partnering with the National Park Service and other stakeholders to fulfill its intent and to ensure the full story of this painful chapter of our nation’s history be told.”

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