Tree Dedication Ceremony
Thursday, November 15th at 1:00pm
Tree Dedication Ceremony at Sato Elementary
Thursday, Nov 15, 2018, 01:00 PM
Sato Elementary School, Northwest Kaiser Road, Portland, OR, USA
Join Us Nov. 15th at 1:00pm Schedule of Events
- Students, Staff, Community members and honored guest gather in front of school
- Colonel Michael C. Howard Introduction of Family and Honored Guests
- Tree dedication and the Plaque
- Color Guard and Presentation of Flag to family
- Pebble ceremony by students
- Photo opportunity for family by tree and plaque
The Sato School Story
The Sato family originated from Nagasaki, Japan. After moving from Washington State to the Bethany area of Washington County, Oregon, Yoshinosuke and Asano Sato operated a small farm while raising their family: Shin, Roy and Marie. They were highly respected members of Bethany Presbyterian Church for many decades. Their berry and vegetable farm provided popular summer jobs for many children in the area. Tragically, the Japanese naval attack on US bases in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, changed the Sato’s American dream in December 1941. They were faithful, law abiding Americans. But US government fears of Japanese-Americans possibly cooperating with anticipated Japanese military landings on the US West Coast caused hysteria against Americans of Japanese ancestry. A massive “internment” program was signed off on by President Roosevelt that forcibly evicted and rounded up tens of thousands of Japanese-Americans. Their homes and businesses were seized (many never to be returned). These Americans were forcibly “re-located” to stock yards and horse racing tracking pending their wartime settlement thousands of miles away in internment camps. This was one of the darkest pages of US history in citizen rights being violated. It violated the U.S. Constitution and our Bill of Rights. The Sato’s dear friends at Bethany Presbyterian Church banded together and though unable to prevent the internment of the Satos, they did manage to safeguard the Sato home and farm through the duration of WWII. But there is another inspiring story here which must be remembered.
At this same WWII internment time, highly qualified military age U.S. citizens of Japanese-American ancestry rallied to prove their patriotism. With the support of the U.S. War Department, first the 100th Battalion and soon after the 442nd Regimental Combat Team were formed. Thousands of U.S. Japanese-Americans volunteered to fight to defend America and prove their fidelity, patriotism and faithfulness. The 100th Battalion later became part of the 442 RCT of the US Army and its combat history is among the most distinguished and highly decorated combat units of WWII. They suffered high casualties fighting in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. They were the most highly decorated unit of its size and their casualties were proof of their dedication and loyalty to America. They fought for freedom despite the freedom denied to their own families. No greater proof of of this was when Sin Sato was killed in action fighting in France. His brother Roy was wounded in action at the same time. Their sister Marie even served as a volunteer military nurse for the WWII duration.
The Sato’s returned to their Bethany home, farm and church after WWII. They had paid a horrible price in family suffering for American freedom and WWII victory. Their family cemetery plot lies just south-east across Kaiser Road in the Bethany Presbyterian Cemetery. To honor them, their story of love, devotion and sacrifice must be remembered and passed on to all Americans. The main lesson is that we are the “land of the free because of the brave” and that the denial of freedom to one is the denial of freedom to all.”
“Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for a friend.” John 15:13
God bless America and the memory of the Sato Family.
Thank you & Shikata ga nai (仕方が無い)
The Sato Family & Friends of the Sato Family
2018