On June 22, the day before Irei-no-Hi, our elementary school held a Peace Assembly. We welcomed Ms. Eiko Ginoza, a former high school English teacher, as our guest speaker.

Ms. Ginoza spoke about the Miyamori Elementary School jet crash. The accident happened on June 30, 1959, fourteen years after the end of the Battle of Okinawa. Miyamori Elementary School was located in what is now Uruma City.

In this tragic accident, a U.S. military jet crashed into Miyamori Elementary School and the surrounding area. Many children and local residents lost their precious lives. Through Ms. Ginoza’s talk, the children learned that even after the war had ended, danger was still very close to the everyday lives of people in Okinawa.

There was also a reading of the picture book The June Sky, which tells the story of this accident. In addition, a Ryukyuan dance was performed to music inspired by the book. Through the story, music, and dance, the children reflected on what happened at that time and the wish for peace.

During the assembly, sixth-grade students read aloud a poem titled “When I Close My Eyes,” which they wrote to express their hopes for peace.

When I Close My Eyes

When I open my eyes, I see my family surrounded by warm light.
When I close my eyes, I see people wandering in search of light.

When I open my eyes, I hear the lively sounds of the town.
When I close my eyes, I hear the sounds of the villages drowned out by screams.

When I open my eyes, I hear my friends laughing together.
When I close my eyes, I hear the footsteps of people running for safety.

When I open my eyes, I see the wide blue sea.
When I close my eyes, I see the sea swallowed by bombs.

When I open my eyes, I see the ordinary day I have today.
When I close my eyes, I see people who wanted to live but could not.

There was a day when voices disappeared under the same sky.
Some people never returned, even though someone was waiting for them.

The day I think is ordinary is the future that someone wanted to protect.

The day I am living today is the tomorrow that someone wished to see.

That is why I will not look away.
I will remember that this peace was built upon the lives and hopes of so many people.

The poem compares the terrible experiences of people during the Battle of Okinawa 81 years ago with the peaceful lives we have today. Through this contrast, the children may have realized that the everyday life they take for granted is not something that should ever be taken for granted.

Spending time with family, laughing with friends, and looking at the beautiful blue sea—each of these is a precious part of daily life that is possible because we live in peace.

We hope that this Peace Assembly gave the children an opportunity not only to learn about the sad events of the past, but also to appreciate the value of the peace we have today and to think about what they can do to protect it. It was a meaningful day for everyone to wish for peace and reflect on how we should live in the future.

Ken Oshiro, Headmaster