Tragedy in Dallas

Chaos in Dallas last night kept me glued to the television news station. I grew up in the Dallas, Ft. Worth Metroplex, having graduated high school at Boswell H.S. in Saginaw and enlisting in the United States Air Force and stationed for four years at Carswell AFB in Ft. Worth (now Carswell Naval Air Station). I have many friends and family who still live in the area, and my heart is heavy today at the loss of five police officers, working to keep the public safe in the aftermath of protests and uproar over the police officer shootings of two men in Minnesota and my home state of Louisiana.

My thoughts: Today I agree with our President who said last night "there is no possible justification for these types of attacks". That Americans are allowed to peacefully protest is a part of our freedoms and I applaud those who make their voices heard when they believe injustice has been imposed upon them. However, two rights don't make a wrong, and those who decided to ambush officers at the protest last night are nothing more than thugs and despicable excuses for  human beings. I am saddened by the loss of five police officers and offer my prayers to the families of those lost and to the Dallas Police Department as they return the city to order and bring these criminals to justice.

Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Center - McGehee, Arkansas

A little piece of history sits just off highway 65 in McGehee, Arkansas. Located in Desha County in the heart of the Delta, the historic Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Center beckons visitors to the museum, opened in April 2013, where one can learn of the plight of over 120,000 Japanese-Americans who were removed from the west coast, amid hysteria and prejudice; 8,000 of them were forced to live in the internment camp located here. Many were more than 50 years old and were not allowed to become citizens, and there were those young, American born citizens, most under 21, who were forced, along with their families to leave behind entire lives. Many left jobs and businesses; all left possessions and their communities. It was 1942 and Pearl Harbor had just been invaded; the government's excuse for internment:  National Security. They were moved to this area because the government owned this large parcel of land that was situated away from populated areas and was near a railroad. It was surrounded by barbed wire and there were armed guards who watched over them from towers.

All that is left of the 500 acre relocation camp is the Rohwer Memorial Cemetery where many of the interred men were buried and a tall smokestack that marks the location of the camp hospital, now gone. There are also two large monuments in the cemetery that honor those who passed away during their internment, as well as the young men from the camp who gave their lives fighting for the U.S. in WWII.

Interpretation for the site is being completed by Arkansas State University, funded by a grant from the National Park Service. Visitors to the site begin at a replica small scale guard tower that serves as an informational kiosk. They then can take a self guided walking tour along the southern boundary of the original camp. Signage is strategically placed to assist visitors. Along the walking tour there are informational kiosks that include images, explanations and audio narration by former child internee, actor George Takei,(Mr. Sulu from Star Trek), who discusses the history of the site and personal anecdotes from his time there.

The museum is located at 100 South Railroad Street in McGehee, Arkansas. It is housed in the renovated south building of the McGehee Railroad Depot. It is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm. Sunday and Monday visits are possible with advanced coordination. Call the museum directly at 870-222-9168.

If you're traveling through the area, this is definitely worth a stop. In McGehee there is also a nice veteran's memorial across the street from the internment camp, the railroad depot museum and an Amish store on Highway 65. Also, visitors will want to stop in for some delicious BB-Q at Hoot's BB-Q and steaks.  Read my review here. 
Some information provided by Rohwer Japanese-American Relocation Center Website