Loading...A Japanese Lantern Floating Ceremony will be held Friday night (Aug. 6) at Cherokee Park to mark the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II. Among the highlights of the candle-lighting ceremony will be an explanation of the significance of the traditional ceremony by the Rev. Arch Taylor, who spent many years living and working in Japan.
Hosted by the Louisville Hiroshima/Nagasaki Commemoration Committee, in cooperation with a number of other local groups, the event is one of a series planned Aug. 6-Aug. 9 to honor not only those who died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki but also the victims of strategic bombing in all wars.
The candle-lighting ceremony will begin at 8 p.m. (EDT) at Cherokee Park's Willow Lake, located at the corner of Lexington Road and Grinstead Drive. The family-friendly ceremony will include the music of John Gage, readings, prayers and an invitation for those present to light and float lanterns.
Other events in the series
Earlier Friday, the committee will hold a public reading of selections from John Hersey's book Hiroshima, which chronicles the atomic bombing and its aftermath. The reading will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Thomas Merton Square, located at the corner of Muhammad Ali Boulevard and Fourth Street. (Aug. 6, 1945 is the actual anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.)
At noon on Monday, Aug. 9, the public is invited to attend a tolling of the bell at Christ Church Cathedral, 425 S. Second St., marking the anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing, which occurred on Aug. 9, 1945. The bell will be tolled 65 times, once for each year since the atomic bombings. The ceremony will also include a dramatic reading of Thomas Merton's well-known poem, "Original Child Bomb."
The final element of this year's commemoration activities is a display of photographic posters from the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation documenting the aftermath of the atomic bombings of that city. The posters are on display Aug. 1-15 on the lower level of Christ Church Cathedral. The photos are available for viewing Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and at other times by appointment.
Terry Taylor, chair of the Commemoration Committee and executive director of Interfaith Paths to Peace, said about the committee's reason for the annual commemoration: "Our intention in presenting these events is to ensure that no city ever again suffers what the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagaskai have experienced." He went on to add, "There will be a special focus in this year's events on urging the U.S. Senate to ratify the Nuclear Disarmament Treaty with Russia, which may be before the Senate this fall."
Sponsors for the commemoration activities include Interfaith Paths to Peace, the Louisville Chapter of the Fellowship of Reconciliation LPAC, the Peace and Justice Division of the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, St. William and St. Agnes Catholic churches, and the Drepung Gomang Institute (Louisville's Tibetan Buddhist Community).
All events are free and open to the public.
For details visit paths2peace.org.
