Recently, DKG/UN representative Lochie Musso was privileged to attend the screening of the film, Paper Lanterns. Below is her brief summary of that occasion.
Paper Lanterns and Peace
Seventy-three years ago, on August 6, an event occurred that changed the world forever – nuclear bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Yes, it brought an end to World War II in the Pacific Theater, and it also transformed the way we looked at war.
One young 8-year-old boy on that day, a survivor, remembered something else. He recalled that shortly before this happened, 12 soldiers from an American plane crash nearby were imprisoned in a military jail in Hiroshima. Years later, Shigeaki Mori began a journey of almost four decades to tell the story of those 12 U.S. soldiers killed in the atomic bombing.
Mr. Mori was the guest of honor at a recent UN briefing sponsored by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Permanent Mission of Japan. Paper Lanterns is a documentary film depicting the unselfish efforts of Mr. Mori’s research and determination not to let these men be forgotten. His persistence in reaching out to all 12 families was his reward, he said. Now they knew the true account of their loved ones. Today, this history can be found in the text books of Japanese students. Two years ago, President Obama was invited to and participated in the annual August 6 memorial at Hiroshima where the 12 men were officially recognized for the first time along with the others as victims of the bomb.
During the Q and A that followed, Mori was asked what kept him at this endeavor for so long. Through an interpreter, he said, “We are all humans. No one should be forgotten, and no one should be subject to this again.” His message was one of peace.
Paper Lanterns, a film by Barry Frechette, should be seen by everyone and especially young people. For more information on the film go to http://wwwpaperlanternfilm.com or contact Mr. Tom Kono (konot@un.org).
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