Empty Chair

This memorial is dedicated to the 53 Japanese Americans of Juneau who were unjustly taken from their homes at the start of World War II. In 1941 people of Japanese ancestry living on the west coast of the USA were removed and incarcerates in isolated government internment camps. The seniors at Juneau High School left an empty chair during their graduation ceremony for their absent, fellow student who should have been there. It is an important historical event of which the citizens of Juneau feel like it needs to be remembered.