Reading this story gives me a huge lump in my throat, for countless reasons. This photo of the school girls, looking toward the A-Bomb dome in Hiroshima, moved me to post about it. I hope they know a different world in their lifetimes, where people do not use such weapons. Eight years ago I stood in the same place as they are, looking at that skeleton of a building, with tears streaming down my face.

Schoolgirls at Hiroshima Peace Museum (A/P photo by S. Kajiyama)

Ceremony helps us mark events; both the bitter and sweet occurrences in life. It helps us pause and remember. Tomorrow marks the 65th anniversary of the first atomic bomb dropping on civilization. It is surely one of our most collectively bitter events to mark as a world community. I can only imagine the solemnity in Hiroshima, when they ring the peace bell and release doves during the ceremony. I am thankful a U.S. Ambassador is attending for the first time. I am encouraged to see other nuclear powers, France and Britain attending. Mere symbolism you say? Well regardless, I believe the ceremony clearly sends messages of peace to leaders and citizens around the world.

I visited the Peace Museum in Hiroshima with a pit in my stomach and many tears. Exhibits made clear to me what utter devastation we wrought. And yet, there is attendant beauty in the walls of letters from Mayors across the world, urging peace and destruction of nuclear weapons. There is magnificent beauty in the thousands of colorful origami cranes draped over garden statues. The sense of remembrance for all the victims and survivors is viscerally palpable. Enough so, I hope, that this world does not see devastation on that scale again.

Kristine