BIJAEM MEMORIAL — What's NewMarch 2010: Clarence Moriwaki stepped down as BIJAEM President in order to fulfill his new position as CEO of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington. Clarence has been a vital part of the Memorial project since it's inception ten years ago. His energy, insight, and leadership will be greatly missed. We wish him all the best as he continues his journey as a vital leader for the Japanese American Community. Sallie Maron has graciously stepped up as the new president of BIJAEM. Construction of the Story Wall is complete! March 2010: Drury Construction Company has completed construction of the full story wall! Like the waves of time passing, the granite base and old–growth red cedar walls and roof gently curve back and forth as you travel down towards the water. Near the end of the wall at the water's edge, the cedar wall is replaced by a gap featuring a wall of dark basalt similar to the Minidoka stone foundations, representing the absence of Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island. Design and construction of interpretive materials for the wall is underway. BIJAEM has hired EDX/Turner of Seattle to design the interpretive materials for the wall. EDX/Turner has been meeting with the BIJAEM Interpretive Materials Committee as well as with BIJAC and other local community members to collaborate on the message and design for the interpretive materials. Grant awarded to BIJAEM. May 2010: BIJAEM was awarded $182,725 from the Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program, administered by the National Parks Service. This funding will be used to compete the fabrication and installation of the interpretive materials for the Memorial Wall. Congressmen help celebrate grant award. May 2010: Senator Maria Cantwell and Representative Jay Inslee held a press conference at the memorial to celebrate the confinement sites grant and showcase the newly built story wall. Several news media representatives were on hand to cover the story including this piece by KOMO News. Back to MEMORIAL Introduction |
