Image from http://www.think-israel.org/
Solemn ringing of bells, as is characteristic of this annual memorial, marked the 65th anniversary, today, of the bombing of Hiroshima. This emotional moment was the very first time the United States attended a ceremony alongside its former nemesis.
As if the perfect set of circumstances came together, the day was reminiscent of 65 years ago when the sky was as pristine as it was, today. The only difference is that the city of Hiroshima would become a final resting place for scores of people who lost their lives from the atomic bomb.
High-ranking Representatives from all over the world, numbering 70 or so nations, were present to pay their respects.
Although President Barack Obama was not present, Washington sent John Roos, US Ambassador, to the annual memorial located at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
Representatives from France and Britain, US allies during WWII, were also present as a symbolic gesture. It's hard to imagine that 65 years ago, these countries were, along with the US, were aligned against Japan, and today, they pay their respects.
In the final analysis, the 65th Anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagaski and the dropping of the first atomic bomb was pivotal during the nations unrest. Lives were lost, ways of life would change, and the allure of building more weapons of mass destruction would define the "unthinkable". But, what remains are memories, captured from the lens of a young cameraman in the wake of a mushroom cloud.
Article written by Bruce Baker
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