My annual repost. Returning the Rising Sun flag to Japan

[Godhumor]

Part of my annual tradition on either Memorial Day or Veterans' Day. Considering my mother in law is currently staying with us, today seemed more appropriate this year.

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My wife, her mother and I were out raking in the front yard earlier today when my neighbor came walking over. He asked to speak to my mother-in-law. He then walked over to her and, with my wife and I helping with the translating, told her that his grandfather had served in the invasion of Okinawa in 1945. He claimed a "Rising Sun" flag as a memento, and it has been in his family ever since.

My neighbor said he wanted to make sure the flag got home and hoped that my mother-in-law would be able to help. Needless to say, she accepted and was touched at his gesture. When she gets back to Japan, she will contact the local Japanese veterans association and start the process of either returning it to the government, a museum or to a veterans' hall.

An unexpected start to the day, but one I felt needed to be shared.

[GGJohn]

1. A very touching gesture. eom.

[RobertEarl]

2. I find it amazing

Amazing how the people of the US have forgiven Japan and Germany.

It goes to show that the people of the US do have a heart.

With a president like Bernie, maybe the world can forgive us for our trespasses one day?

[jwirr]

6. I think it is easier to forgive if you are the winner. And in the case of Germany and to a lesser

degree we had both races in the war on our side.

[Hoppy]

3. My father was in Iwa Jima. He had a rising Sun flag, about the size of a handkerchief.

It had writing in Japanese. There was paper money and a few trinkets that he said had been given to him by a Japanese p.o.w. who he befriended.

In 2005, my mother decided to see if it could be returned to the owner or his family. We drove the stuff over to the Japanese consulate in N.Y.C. and asked them to help return it.

The consulate staff had us sign a release and told us that we would be told if the items had been reunited. We might hear from the recipients or maybe not.

Two years later, we heard that the items had been reunited. The soldier had been a bank clerk before the war and the writing on the flag was best wishes from his co-workers.

We never heard from the soldier or his family.

[brooklynite]

4. Would you return a confederate flag to someone in the South?

[1939]

5. In the 1880s and 1890s there was a return of trophy flags to both the north and the south NT

[alphafemale]

7. I have family on both sides.

Of course I would.

Slavery was wrong.

The cultural obliteration and war against civilians by Sherman also horrifying.

[Half-Century Man]

8. Our day to remember the fallen.

All of them.
Ours and theirs.