Danielle's Trip to Manzanar

by Danielle

On March 23, 2009 the 7th and 8th grade classes went to the Manzanar War Relocation Center between Independence and Lone Pine. For me that was my 2nd time going, it was different the last time I went. That last time there were still some of the buildings there now the only buildings there are the mess hall and the old Manzanar school/auditorium/gym.

The Manzanar War Relocation Center was built in 1942 because the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. The Americans got so scared they decided in order to avoid this happening again; they ordered 110,000 men, women, and children to go to Manzanar. Even if the people were born in America, had Japanese ancestors, or just looked Japanese they were sent off.

The people told us how they’re going to re-build the mess hall. I think they should have left it how it was so we could actually get a feeling of what it was like. Also, they shouldn’t have torn down the other buildings like the barracks. I probably would have enjoyed the trip more if there were more things that were actually there not re-built.