200 floating lanterns to mark peace ceremony

With the successful outcome of last year’s inaugural Hiroshima Nagasaki Peace Ceremony and Candlelight Vigil, the 10th Tinian Municipal Council, with the assistance of the Tinian Youth Center, has begun preparation for this year’s event with the construction of more than 200 hundred floating paper lanterns.

The highlight of last year’s somber ceremony was the launching of 40 handmade paper lanterns at the Tinian Marina carrying messages of peace written by the youth of Tinian.

This year, the number of floating lanterns was increased to 200 to allow for more people to participate in the ceremony. When asked whether all 200 or so lanterns will be ready by the Aug. 6 ceremony date, executive director James M. Mendiola Jr. answered, “There’s no doubt in my mind that the capable staff of the Tinian Youth Center and Tinian Municipal Council will come through with all 200 lanterns.”

Last year’s launching of floating lanterns in the Marina was arranged to mirror the floating of paper lanterns down the river adjacent to Hiroshima Peace Park during the annual national peace ceremony held in Hiroshima, Japan.

To ensure that this year’s ceremony continues to properly reflect the solemn sentiments of the people of Tinian, the Tinian Municipal Council has enlisted the assistance of the Tinian Mayor’s Office, the Marianas Visitors Authority, the Tinian Youth Center, the Community Outreach, the Tinian Legislative Delegation, the Department of Public Safety, and numerous private establishments.

The 2nd Annual Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Ceremony will begin at 9:15am (8:15am Hiroshima time) when the DPS sounds off sirens to mark the exact time the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. The sirens will be a sign for the community of Tinian to take a few minutes to remember those that have perished in the bombing.

A candle light vigil and floating lantern ceremony will follow in the evening. The exact details of the ceremony and all its events will be available on the Tinian Municipal website, www.tinianonline.com, or by phone at the office of the 10th Tinian Municipal Council.

For those off-island that may want to be a part of this special occasion, you may submit your peace messages via fax to 433-0814. These messages will be put together in coconut woven baskets and will be sent to the museum in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (Jaimie Sanchez and Alex Sandbergen)