慰霊の日の説明を英語で読んでみよう。

慰霊の日 - Wikipedia : http://bit.ly/1Jfh1z1

Okinawa Memorial Day : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawa_Memorial_Day

～～転載ここから～～

（読みやすさを考慮して改行しています。）

Okinawa Memorial Day (慰霊の日 Irei no Hi, lit. "the day to console the dead") is a public holiday observed in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture annually on June 23 to remember the lives lost during the Battle of Okinawa. It is not celebrated nationally throughout Japan.

(lit.はliterally 文字通りの意味)

History

In the Battle of Okinawa, Japanese soldiers as well as inhabitants, were pushed into the Southern border of Okinawa and Mitsuru Ushijima and Isamu Chō, top generals committed suicide on June 22 or 23, 1945. During the occupation of Japan, in 1961, Okinawa Memorial Day was made a holiday by the Government of the Ryukyu Islands in order to remember and pray for their family members and relatives who were killed during the Battle of Okinawa. In 1972, when Okinawa was returned to Japan, Okinawa Memorial Day lost its recognition as a holiday, but this was restored by the prefectural government in 1991. In Okinawa, it is treated like one of the Japanese national public holidays.

Cornerstone of Peace

The Cornerstone of Peace is a monument in Itoman commemorating the Battle of Okinawa and the role of Okinawa during World War II. The names of over two hundred and forty thousand people who lost their lives are inscribed on the memorial. It was unveiled on June 23, 1995, in memory of the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa and the end of World War II at Mabuni, Okinawa. It was erected to:

(1) Remember those lost in the war, and pray for peace;

(2) Pass on the lessons of war; and

(3) Serve as a place for meditation and learning. Another expression is Okinawa Peace Park. On June 23, or Okinawa Memorial Day, memorial services are held every year with the attendance of the prime minister.

～～転載ここまで～～

慰霊の日というのを今の今まで調べたことがなかったのですが、沖縄県の条例で、沖縄では法的な公休日なので県と市町村で働く人は休みで、国の機関で働いている人は休みではないのですね。

私の父方がおじいちゃんの名前が平和記念公園の平和の礎に刻まれているのを何年か前に見た記憶があります。

戦争は私は体験したことがないのですが、最近は戦争が起きるのではないかと思わせるような報道規制や法律改定が見られます。

もしかしたら、私達は戦争を今経験しているのかも知れません。

今のところは武力を使う前の情報戦です。

戦争は自然に発生するものではありません。

どんなに互いに嫌いでも、殺しあう必要はないし、それは非人道的です。

それでも戦争が起こるのは、戦争を起こす人がいるからです。

戦争で亡くなった人々の魂を慰めるとともに、今生きている私達の魂が戦争で失われることのないよう、今何ができるかを常に考えていきましょう。

今日だけでなく、明日もあさっても。

P.S.