Driving through the desert, just as they had. Setting foot upon an isolated camp, just as they had. Just like the many Japanese Americans incarcerated during the events of World War II by their own country, my family and I visited the Manzanar National Historic Site several years ago. Although my family can’t be compared to the same innocent families taken without consent to live in internment camps, I was presented with an idea of what situation they faced. 

A photo of the map of the internment camp my parents took

At the National Historic Site, I learned much about the lives and conditions of the imprisoned Japanese Americans at Manzanar. In addition, at most National Parks and Historic Sites, there exists a Junior Ranger program, in which I participated in. Junior Rangers are given activities and a workbook to complete as they venture throughout the park. What I enjoyed most was the prize: a Junior Ranger badge. Through this program, I performed a scavenger hunt of information during my time at Manzanar, therefore earning my badge. As a nine year-old, I don’t exactly recall all of the specificities of my experience there, but one of the most notable events that occurred was meeting one of the Japanese Americans who lived there. My family and I were prepared to go home, all until “some old man” I thought as a nine year-old entered the building. One of the park rangers present explained he was in fact one of the many Japanese Americans forced to live at Manzanar. My parents ended up talking to him and I didn’t think much of it then. 

The Junior Ranger badge I earned from Manzanar

Looking back, I honestly think it was pretty cool and interesting that I was able to encounter a real person from a significant moment in history. Leaving Manzanar, I also received a postcard-type photo of one of the internees to remember my experience by. Even if my time at Manzanar was of insignificance to me many years ago, I can better understand its history now. Even when reading They Called Us Enemy, I was suddenly taken with a little bit of happiness and surprise when I noticed Manzanar, a place that I had visited, was mentioned in the book. They Called Us Enemy, helped me remember that I had visited an infamous historical site and better educated me on the circumstances of those imprisoned there. Overall, I’m glad that my family took me to Manzanar all those years ago, as it was an experience that I’ll definitely never be able to forget now.