Hiroshima- Nagasaki: The Horror and the Hope 2023

 By Christine Sheller

August 8, 2023, the Des Moines peace community came together to observe the annual mourning and service of hope for the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan in 1945.  This year’s theme was Hiroshima- Nagasaki: The Horror and the Hope. 

The planning committee wanted to acknowledge the horrific reality of the bombings, but also wanted to remember the hope there is for a future of no nukes. 

The observance was held at the Japanese Bell of Peace and Freedom on the State Capitol grounds as is the tradition.  People were ushered up to the seating area near the Japanese Bell by photo and text posters lining the sidewalk.  A picture of an atomic bomb going off was among the photos on the posters brought by Catholic Peace Ministry.

Steve Dressel and his wife led the attendees in the song, “Down by the Riverside” as Gathering Music.

                                                                (Krieg/ AFSC)

  Patti McKee, former Catholic Peace Ministry Director, and past Iowa Peace Network coordinator gave the greeting.  She included a poem in her greeting.  Eloise Cranke, former coordinator for Methodist Federation for Social Action- Iowa, and member of the planning committee for this event, introduced the main speaker of the evening, Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai. Bishop Kennetha offered a faith reflection as Bishop of the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church.

                                                                  (Kreig/ AFSC)

Bishop Kennetha spoke on several things, including an acknowledgement of the recent release of the movie “Oppenheimer” in theatres across the U.S.  She asked how many in the crowd had seen the movie, and almost every hand went up! 

Next, Christine Sheller, member of the planning committee for the event and Coordinator at Iowa Peace Network, read excerpts from the 2023 Peace Declaration by the Mayor of Hiroshima, Matsui Kazumi, which he shared in Hiroshima, Japan, August 6, the anniversary for the bombing there.  One of the excerpts included:  “In civil society, each of us  must embrace the generosity and the love for humanity embodied in the hibakusha message, ‘No one should ever suffer as we have.’”  (Hibakusha is the Japanese word referring to survivors of the atomic bomb.) 

Next, Mary Ann Koch, member of the planning committee for the event, shared a reflection of hope.  She read from a book on hope after the bombings, and brought a sapling signifying the hope Japanese and visitors see when they see the trees which were burned from the atomic bomb, but put out new sprouts and did not die. 

 After Mary Ann Koch, Caleb Stewart, also a member of the planning committee, and intern at Catholic Peace Ministry, shared a reflection to action.  He mentioned Back from the Brink among other things.  Back from the Brink publicize their Five Policy Solutions:  Pursue Global Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Renounce First Use, End Sole Presidential Authority, End Hair-Trigger Alert, and Cancel Enhanced Weapons. 

 Kathleen McQuillen, Director at Catholic Peace Ministry, shared about and read the Bell Dedication.  The Bell Dedication are the words imprinted on the Bell, a gift from a sister state in Japan after Iowa shared agricultural gifts after a disaster there.  It is a traditional Japanese temple bell.

 

Last, Steve Dressel led us in the song “This is My Song.”  Next was the annual ringing of the bell and laying of flowers.  Those who had not brought flowers were given out of the bounty of others who brought flowers to share.  As is the custom, attendees lined up to climb the steps up to the bell, laid flowers on the base of the bell, and pulled back the beam which struck the bell.  Steve Dressel and his wife accompanied the flower-bearers and bell-ringers with a traditional Japanese melody with words printed in the program. 

 

                                                                    

                                                    Laying flowers, and ringing the bell (Kreig/ AFSC)

Cosponsors include:  American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Midwest Region, Catholic Peace Ministry, Des Moines Intentional Eucharistic Community, Des Moines Valley Friends Meeting, Downtown Disciples, Faith Committee for Peace, First United Methodist Church Outreach Committee, Iowa Peace  Network, Methodist Federation for Social Action- Iowa, Middle East Peace Education Coalition, National Iranian American Council, Plymouth Peace and Justice, Sisters of Humility- Des Moines, STAR*PAC, and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Des Moines. 

 

Christine Sheller is editor and coordinator at Iowa Peace Network, based in Des Moines and remotely in rural Eldora.  She is an M. Div. graduate of Bethany Theological Seminary.