<Begin Segment 23>

AL: Did you ever go back to Manzanar or to the Children's Village site?

AS: Yes I did. We've made about four more journeys there.

AL: What's that like? And what was the first trip like and when?

AS: It was when they had established the, the center. Was it 2007 or 2006?

AL: We opened in 2004.

AS: Right, oh, we went to that one. Yeah.

AL: Was that your first time back at Manzanar?

AS: No, the, the one in ninety, it looked like it was '91, right after we had the reunion in Rosemead, we went that following April, April to the Manzanar site. And of course it didn't have, it was still that, the hall, the mess hall and they hadn't done the museum yet.

AL: What was it like to go back to the site though?

AS: It was like, well, it was like a bunch of rocks where they had the Children's Village. And they were telling us about the, the pears or apple orchards and the hospital in, right next, next to it. And they had a guide there. I forgot what his name was, Japanese guy that, that was making these tours.

AL: Uh-huh. And that would be about what year?

AS: I think it was, was it year two thousand and... not four? Or, I don't remember the year.

AL: What do you think... I mean, Miss Stuart was still alive until 1996 so she would have been alive when the redress was being done. Did she talk to you at all about her feelings in later years about, things about the camp? Did you ever talk about that?

AS: Well, she said she was, she had a empathy for the Japanese people because it was like she would visit the sick people in the county and then she had communication with some of the people 'cause she stored their furniture until after the war. So she said she was glad that she took in Celeste and myself.

AL: Right. Did she have ongoing relationships with the people? Like you said she stored furniture. Did she have Japanese American friends?

AS: A few of them. And there was one that lived in south Pasadena that she communicated with until she passed away, the one in south Pasadena. So aside from that, she didn't have too much contact.

AL: Did she do anything when you were growing up to encourage, for instance, connections to your Japanese cultural roots or did, did, were you involved at all in things like Girl Scouts or festivals or any sorts of things in the Japanese American Community?

AS: No, none whatsoever.

AL: Have you been involved in the Japanese American Community as an adult?

AS: The only, the only communication we have is our daughter was in the Obon, Obon dancing, Nisei Week.

AL: Uh-huh.

AS: And she was dressed in all the costumes, the original, the hair, makeup, and everything. And she did that dance just one, one time.

AL: Uh-huh.

AS: I think it was in August, down, downtown.

AL: Yeah, always on the hottest weekend of the year.

AS: Oh, yeah, it was pretty warm, hot. So we have pictures of, of that occasion.

AL: Uh-huh. When you look back now, I mean, you've been to Manzanar, you've been to the interpretive center, you've been involved in helping to preserve this story, what is it that you most want people to know about either your own life experience or the Children's Village experience or the war, I mean, what message would you want to convey to people in, people who hear this interview or see this interview or just to the public?

AS: Well, because the Japanese culture was family-oriented, no matter if there was orphans, but basically it was a pretty family-oriented community or, or culture. So they were more adhesive when they went into the camp, as traumatic as it was, and a lot of 'em lost their homes and property. But when they came out of camp, they rebuilt their lives. I called it out of the ashes of prejudice we became very productive, proud, American citizens. 'Cause we were Americans. And we were citizens. Even though we were treated like non-people. But I think it had to do with our background, that kept us together and united and, you know, the people that you meet today, even here, very few of 'em, they just take it like, well, that was life. Very few of 'em have real bitter memories as far as we know. 'Cause we've talked to several of 'em at our tables last night. So I think what happened, I want to stress that the family structure is, culture is so important. No matter what... and I know that there's been injustices to other races. But I think ours are, are unique. There was, I know there was riots in Manzanar and they were sent off to Tule Lake or whatever, but basically the people, I mean, they kind of took it. And, but then they became proud. They were proud people to begin with. And so I think that's what helped them.

AL: Have you ever been to Japan?

AS: No. One of these days, yeah.

AL: Uh-huh.

AS: We've heard people say it's a beautiful country. Very clean and the people are very polite, very friendly.

AL: Are you involved in any sort of Japanese cultural groups or organizations?

AS: No. We're not at all. For one thing, we go to a mostly Caucasian Nazarene church in Pasadena. And they have a few Japanese people but not, not really involved with them.

AL: So you've spent your life as a Christian.

AS: Yes.

AL: Are there any things about your faith that impact the way you look on your experience or you react to your experience? I mean, how does it, how has your faith changed how you view your life experience?

AS: You know, God set a place for us and no matter how bad it is He will help the faith to pull us through. And depend on Him and He's been the... I'm not a fanatic. But I just believe that God... I look at all the events in my life and I realize that God was in the midst of it, of them. And so that's why I'm sane or as sane as I am. I could have gone off the deep end and, but I didn't. So...

AL: That's great. Are there questions that you guys have? Anything else you want to share with us? Any questions I should have asked you and didn't? Any questions I did ask you and shouldn't have? [Laughs] There's probably two hours of those.

AS: Well, I hope this will be helpful to the people that, that see the interview and, and all of our stories still helped, will help them to see that these injustices could occur but hopefully they never will. And like I said, I wrote that, "Out of the ashes of prejudice, we've become proud and loyal American citizens." I think I mentioned that in the book.

AL: You can't say it any better than that. So, on behalf of the three of us and the National Park Service and just for the sake of history, thank you so much for your time and for opening your heart and I think it's always difficult for people sometimes to open and share and I think, I appreciate even more knowing that, that you've come a bumpy road and that you're willing to share that and be open and we really appreciate that. So...

AS: Oh, well, thank you.

AL: Thank you, Annie, very much.

AS: You're welcome.

<End Segment 23> - Copyright © 2009 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.