Eighty years ago, Vashon residents who were Americans of Japanese descent were bused to the ferry to begin their incarceration at internment camps.

On Sunday, May 15, about 80 residents and visitors to Vashon gathered at Mukai Farm & Garden to recognize and remember that injustice. Among the 111 interned Vashon residents were four students of Vashon High School, looking forward to graduating with their class. Only one returned to graduate — Mary Matsuda Gruenewald joined the 2017 graduating class – 74 years later.

At Mukai’s event, attendees wore the tags with the Vashon residents’ names, identical to the tags used to connect families and their luggage.

Shuko Sissel Johannessen and Siezan Stephan of the Puget Sound Zen Center led the event’s blessing and bell ringing as each Vashon family’s names were read by Paula Wong. Yvonne Kuperberg made a speech, recalling how her high school teacher told her class, at that time, that the missing Japanese American students had decided to move.

Vashon High School graduate and artist, Chantal Uto, presented her art, “The Gift” which recognizes the joy and lost contributions of the Vashon students that had not graduated.

On display at the site is Kintsugi (Golden Journey) a banner by artist Lauren Iida. Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma read his poem “Home” to the backdrop of rain.

Rita Brogan, Board President of Mukai Farm & Garden, asked, “Let us also resolve that this shall never again happen in America.”