<Begin Segment 8>

FK: I wanted to ask you what you thought about the World War II Japanese American Memorial at Eagledale, and what your, what your feelings were about that and just give me your take on that memorial.

AB: I've seen a presentation and I've seen the models for it and some plans and renderings and everything about it seems very appropriate. And it's going to be a beautiful, beautiful space in general. I'm not sure. How far are they along? Are they getting closer? Or is it... is there a scheduled opening yet?

FK: Yeah, pathways and roads are all in. If you haven't been out there, you can go out there on Monday. We're gonna go out there after a luncheon we have. So, but I don't know if that's possible for you. It's at 2:30 or so we're gonna go out there.

AB: Oh, okay.

FK: You can see what's gone on so far. Do you, do you feel like... one of the things we think is important is to have a section of that memorial, whether it's in the interpretive center or not, on people that helped us during that time and so forth. And, and it seems like almost every Japanese family had some Filipino person looking after their farm and looking after things. And how do you feel about that being part of the memorial and the relationship between the Filipino families and the Japanese families?

AB: I think it's a wonderful idea. It's very... it's an honor for all the Filipino farmers. I mean, I knew that there was gonna be the visitors center but I didn't realize there was going to be something that was dedicated towards the Filipino...

FK: Well, we think that's, that's part of our... what's gonna to end up in the interpretive center.

AB: Yeah. It's a really nice gesture.

FK: Well, it's more than a gesture, 'cause it's true. [Laughs] I mean it's obvious that it's, it was very helpful to us. Anything else you'd like to add?

AB: Sorry, I'm all shaken up.

FK: That's okay. Anything you want to ask me?

AB: Ask you? Yeah, when is the opening? Is there going to be...

FK: We're doing it in phases, so...

AB: Oh, okay.

FK: Yeah, the next phase will be the memorial wall. And we just got enough funds to do that. So that's probably gonna start in the spring and hopefully it will be done before the end of the year.

AB: Okay.

FK: And the phase after that is to do the pier off the end and then the interpretive center last. It's gonna be a few years because we still have to raise a lot of money to do that.

AB: Sure, sure...

FK: But it's a beautiful place.

AB: Yeah.

FK: So if you get a chance, just go ahead and go out there.

AB: I was there for the blessing actually. And that was a nice day.

FK: On March 30th we'll have the, another ceremony 'cause it will be the sixty-fifth anniversary.

AB: Okay.

FK: And that's another thing you could come to.

AB: Okay.

FK: Well, I appreciate everything you've done and I'm glad you did that paper on your grandfather.

AB: Thank you.

<End Segment 8> - Copyright © 2007 Densho. All Rights Reserved.