Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Never Again; commemoration held in DM August 9, 2026

 by IPN Coordinator

 

Since the late 70’s, Des Moines peace activists have planned a Hiroshima-Nagasaki remembrance program for early August, to remember the atomic bombing in those cities, now 81 years ago.  It was held again this year, at the Japanese Bell of Peace and Friendship on the Iowa State Judicial Grounds.  Persons gathered for a 7 pm service near the bell in the evening of August 9, the anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing.  August 6 was the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing.  Approximately 50 were gathered in lawn chairs and on blankets.

 Members from some of the cosponsoring organizations collaborated to plan the service- representatives from Circle of Peacemakers, DM Faith Committee for Peace, and Iowa Peace Network.

 A Land Acknowledgement was printed in the program for those present, acknowledging that the land we were standing on was first the land of the Ioway and Sac and Meskwaki peoples.  The Land Acknowledgement also stated “We offer our condolences and respect for the elders and peoples, past, present, and future, displaced by the conquest and deception of the United States of America.” 

 Kent Newman provided gathering music with singing and his guitar, of which one song was “Blowin’ in the Wind” popularized by Bob Dylan.  Christine Sheller, of Iowa Peace Network and a member of the planning committee, gave the greeting and opening words for the service.  She quoted a Native American saying, “We do not own the land.  We are borrowing it from our children.” 

 

                              Kent Newman singing in front of the participants.  (Fallon Forum/ Ed Fallon)

Father David Polich read the history of the bell, which can be found by the Japanese Bell on a plaque.  He was with the planning committee, and also with Circle of Peacemakers.  It recounts the help that Iowa gave to a certain state in Japan upon a drought/ disaster there.  Iowa sent a gift to help the people there; and in thanks they sent this Japanese Bell to the State of Iowa.  It is the traditional location of this event, and an integral part of the conclusion of the service.

 Eloise Cranke, of the DM Faith Committee for Peace and member of the planning committee, introduced the speaker Ted Lytton Hatten, a Methodist minister and artist.  His speech was entitled “Foraging for Peace.”  He made the connection of peace work and foraging.  He shared some of his artwork, wood-carved doves- different kinds of doves made with different kinds of wood.  One dove was a common-ground dove. He passed the doves around in the crowd, carvings that could be held in one hand.  He also spoke of the Gingko tree behind us, being donated to us from Japan, a seedling of a sprout on a Gingko tree that sprouted again even after the atomic bombing.  It was a very interesting and moving sharing about art and peacework.  He also noted a Luna moth that flew in front of the crowd just as he was beginning to speak- beautiful.

 

                                                  Ted Lytton-Hatten speaking (IPN/ Sheller)

Kent Newman next performed a song, “I Come and Stand.”  Mary Ann Koch shared comments from the Hiroshima Mayor, a traditional part of the service as well.  

Carmen Lampe Zeitler shared some poetry from “A Siberian Woodsmen” by Wendell Berry (1968).  Words to the full poem were handed out at the beginning with the programs.  Some of what she read included:  “You lean at ease in your warm house at night after supper, listening to your daughter play the accordion.  You smile with the pleasure of a man confident in his hands, resting after a day of long labor in the forest, the cry of the saw in your head, and the vision of coming home to rest…. “ Then, “Who has invented our enmity?  Who has prescribed us hatred of each other?  Who has armed us against each other with the death of the world?  Who has appointed me such anger that I should desire the burning of your house or the destruction of your children?”…

                               Participants proceeding and exiting the bell platform.  (IPN/Sheller)

Kathleen McQuillen, director at Circle of Peacemakers and lead in planning this event, gave closing comments and directions on laying flowers on the bell.   Participants approached the bell in a line to ring the distinctive bell.  It is unlike the traditional bell in the U.S.  It is rung by holding back the “ringer post” and then letting it go to hit the bell.  Kent Newman played some closing music, and the service was concluded. 

 

Removable artwork by Ted Lytton-Hatten under the bell.  Flowers laying on outside of the platform.                                                                               (IPN/ Sheller)

Cosponsors were:  AFSC- American Friends Service Committee; CPM- Circle of Peacemakers, Des Moines Faith Committee for Peace; Des Moines Intentional Eucharistic Community; Des Moines Mennonite Church; Des Moines Valley Friends; Downtown Disciples; First United Methodist Church- Mission and Social Concerns; First Unitarian Peace, Justice, and Democracy; Heartland Presbyterian Church; IPN- Iowa Peace Network; MFSA- Methodist Federation for Social Action; Plymouth UCC Peace and Justice Committee; Trinity Las Americas; Walnut Hills United Methodist Church; and WILPF- Women’s Int’l League for Peace and Freedom.