National Japanese American Memorial — Attraction in Washington

One of the finest memorials in all of United States. Why do I say so? Because this memorializes a particularly nasty - and yet, routinely overlooked - episode in American history. That is, when World War II began, the US government put thousands of Japanese-origin persons, including American citizens, in large 'concentration camps'. This memorial looks back at that sorry episode; Reminds Americans of what went on in the past; Notes names and contributions of countless Japanese-origin Americans; and just does a really good job of paying tribute to the suffering of women and men eight decades ago.

Oh, and great cherry trees all around. They blossom gorgeously in spring. Go there in March. The...

The Concentration Camp Memorial brings out feelings of my grandfather being held on Ellis Island for being a Japanese businessman and therefore suspect. It also evokes memories of friends I have made through the years that were in the camps and served in the 442nd brigade and the military intelligence service. Few remain. The reflecting pool with the five boulders represent the five generations of Japanese Americans that have been raised in America. It has also a relation to a Zen stone garden where monks would meditate and you could never see all five rocks at once, giving further...

There's a fantastic lesson to be learned in this memorial. The quotes and inscriptions were powerful - admitting as a nation that we've done wrong to those we feared. My grandma moved to the US shortly after WWII and she said as a child, she would lie about her Japanese heritage. This memorial impacted me even more because of my family's history. I enjoyed reflecting today, but want to come back at peak cherry blossom season. Apparently it's one of the best places in DC to see the blossoms and now I...