After Mt. Pinatubo we made a quick stop at a monument that stands as a memorial to an area where thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were marched to death and those that survived were kept on this property where a Japanese concentration camp used to be. It was very impressive to see all the names on the walls surrounding the monument, and over 30,000 trees have been planted in the immediate area to represent the lives lost. The three pillars represent America, Philippines, and Japan, now united.
I enjoyed how forward the wording was on the signs below. It made it very clear the purpose of this monument is not just to honor the past but to learn from it and never forget.
There was also a memorial bridge that led to a garden.
Seeing things up close like this reminds you how lucky you are that even though you are sweaty, and hungry, and covered in ash from head to toe, you still get to go "home" and take a shower, and be with family, and God bless air conditioning. I can't even imagine what these guys endured, but it was a respectful memorial to all those who suffered. And as one of the girls with us expressed, I hope there is never a World War 3...
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