5th Anniversary of Glendale Peace Monument Report

5th Anniversary of the Glendale Peace Monument was a great success, thanks to the City of Glendale City Council, Honorees and our supporters!!

It was our oversight and missed one important speaker who opened up the ceremony in the Park: Current Glendale City Councilmember Paula Devine, who gave an inspiring speech at the gathering on Saturday.

She made it clear that she will continue to stand with the Grandmas and protect the Peace Monument for decades to come. Thank you, Councilwoman Devine!!

The ceremony started with a ritual and procession and a Korean traditional healing dance “Salpuri” in front of the Peace Monument to remember the 25 Grandmas who have passed away in the past 5 years.  In the auditorium, Sungsam Korean Catholic Church’s choir opened the event and Grandma Yong-soo Lee and the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ed Royce congratulated us with video messages.  Click here to see the greetings from Grandma Lee and Chairman Ed Royce.

California Senator Anthony Protantino expressed strong support for the “Comfort Women” issue and commended the City leadership of Glendale.  Judge Lillian Sing, Co-Chair of the SF based CWJC delivered powerful solidarity statement and invited everyone to the 1st Anniversary of the San Francisco “Comfort Women” Memorial onSeptember 22, 2018!!

Each honorees – Former Mayor Frank Quintero, California Assemblywoman Laura Friedman, Mayor Zareh Sinanyan, Councilman Ara Najarian expressed strong and unwavering commitment to protect the Peace Monument from Japanese government’s ceaseless attempt to remove it.  California Assemblywoman Laura Friedman shared that she was recently visited by a high official of the Japanese government and to her surprise, he requested the Peace Monument removed. Mayor Zareh Sinanyan and other city officials also are under heavy pressure from the Japanese government to remove the Peace Monument; but the leaders of Glendale are absolutely committed to keep the Peace Monument where it is.

KAFC’s executive director Phyllis Kim made a report about KAFC’s activities including our new educational website to provide lesson plans and reference materials for the 10th Grade History/Social Science teachers for free of charge.  Also debuted was our new project CARE (“Comfort Women” Action for Redress and Education) which will expand the cause to a broader community and educational institutions.  Click here to see the short video about CARE.

An exciting Armenian American Museum project was presented by Shant Sahakianwith a video presentation and the introduction of its vision.  KAFC is work closely with the Museum Association and the City of Glendale regarding the location of the Peace Monument and for the success of the Museum project which will enrich all the communities in the area.   Click here to see the video about the Museum project.

The winners of the 1st “Comfort Women” Poster Contest were awarded with certificates and prize. The winners are: Jin Kim (Grand Prize), Cloe Maurer (1st Place in High School), Jiwoo Han (2nd Place in High School), Christine Joo (3rd Place in High School), Yoonseok Oh (1st Place in Middle School), Sarah Son (2nd Place in Middle School), Sol Choi (3rd Place in Middle School). Congratulations to these winners!!  Click here to see the entries.

Glendale Central Library ReflectSpace Gallery is currently presenting an exhibit “Comfort Women Resist” until September 11.  Please come and see it!

Please click here to see the photos from the event.

Thank you, supporters, city leaders and our invaluable volunteers and interns for supporting our work and walking with the Grandmas!!

Following the Grandmas’ footsteps that have moved many mountains, we will continue this journey to defeat the Japanese government’s “History War” with $500 Million annual budget.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!