Japanese Memorial

The vignette I chose from the Japanese Internment Memorial was the one with the American soldier holding up the American flag while four Japanese soldiers stand to salute it.

I picked this one because many of the internees were given the opportunity to serve in the U.S. Army in exchange for their internment, but only a few soldiers took the offer. Of the 110,000 approximate Japanese-Americans who were interned, less than 1,200 opted to enlist in the military to serve the U.S.

I think Ruth Asawa, the artist of the memorial, captured a certain feel in this vignette. It look like the four Japanese soldiers who are saluting the flag are not as proud as the American soldier who is holding the flag. It shows that the American has a lot of pride to be serving and has no problem holding a flag on a pole that is considerably larger than his own self and also that the four Japanese soldiers look small and unhappy next to the flag.