MUSEUM EXHIBIT - Reader impressed by cultural display

I highly recommend the Yakima Valley Museum for the exhibit "Land of Joy and Sorrow," depicting the history of the Japanese people in the Yakima Valley. I also applaud those who contributed to, and supported, the creation of this exhibit. It includes story boards, historical documents, poetry, recorded voices, photos and memorabilia saved for a century and contributed by Japanese residents of the valley and the Columbia Basin. It follows the immigration of the Japanese to America in the early 20th century, their dedication to their new homeland and development of agriculture of the region, their incarceration in internment camps during World War II, their contributions to the American war efforts, and their beginning life all over again throughout the Pacific Northwest following release from the camps in the summer of 1945. The Yakima Valley Museum has done a masterful job not only of bringing to life the history of the Japanese in the valley, but also in communicating the spirit of the Japanese people, now an integral part of their respective communities. I hope this exhibit can become a permanent exhibit.

Susan Blackwell

Moses Lake