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Memorial to Recognize Japanese-Americans

Fresno-  Fresno County officials break ground on a memorial at the fairgrounds to recognize the more than 5,000 Japanese-Americans who were once held in internment camps there.

The current memorial marker will be replaced by a memorial plaza, to remember those who were interned at the Fresno Assembly Center at the fairgrounds during world war two, nearly 70 years ago.

"It started out a small. It's grown to the point where we really think we need we need to re-do the project, make it contemporary and more educational," said Dale Ikeda, with the Fresno Assembly Center Committee.

They're planning to create a replica of a barrack, and sell personalized bricks, that will form the walls, which will be adorned by photos and storyboards.

It will be built in front of the Commerce Building.

Nori Masuda was once an intern at the Fresno Assembly Center, and attended the groundbreaking ceremony Sunday.

"I was one of the first to come in, May 9, 1942," said Masuda.

He stayed at the internment camp for six months.

He says Japanese-Americans formed their own city inside the camp, where he felt safe.

"Outside it was dangerous, I was afraid, but inside we were protected," said Masuda.

And although the time is not a proud moment in American history, local leaders say, it's important, to recognize its significance.

"So our generation and future generations will never forget that being American is part of enjoying rights and freedoms. Even in our country, we witnessed a time period where one segment of Americans those rights were taken away," said Rep. Jim Costa, (D) Fresno.

The memorial will cost about $230,000 to build and committee members say they've already raised about a third of that.

They hope to complete the memorial plaza by October 2011, in time for the opening of the Big Fresno Fair that year.