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50th Annual Amache Pilgrimage

  • 16 May 2025
  • 18 May 2025
  • Granada, Colorado
Schedule and other details: 2025 Amache Pilgrimage Program v2.pdf

Pilgrimages to former WWII concentration camps for those of Japanese descent were started in the late 1960s. It took nearly a quarter century for former prisoners and their descendants to question why they had been imprisoned and begin searching for answers. The first formal pilgrimage to Amache was one of the official events commemorating the state of Colorado’s centennial from 1975-76. After pilgrims arrived at Amache, they cleaned the cemetery site. Since then, the annual Pilgrimage has taken place on the weekend before Memorial Day weekend for the past 50 years. it was originally limited to only Saturday, in recent years it has grown to a longer event.

Amache, also known as the Granada War Relocation Center, played a significant role in American history during World War II. From 1942 to 1945, it was one of the ten camps where over 7,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and incarcerated. Located in southeastern Colorado, Amache housed men, women, and children who were uprooted from their homes and communities, facing harsh conditions and loss of freedom. Despite these challenges, the internees formed a resilient community, establishing schools, farms, and other essential services within the camp. The history of Amache reminds us of the strength of the human spirit and the importance of remembering our past to build a more inclusive future.

About us

The Japan-America Society of Southern Colorado is a non-profit educational and cultural organization promoting increased awareness, education, and understanding between the citizens of Southern Colorado and Japan.  Learn about the History of the JASSC.

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Board of Directors

 President  Wayne Stout
 719-323-9550
 president@japanamerica.org
 Vice President  Jennifer Ishida (Basco)
 Secretary  Eric Basco
 Treasurer  Laura Villagrana
Communications
  Rayna Lindsey
 IT/Facebook  Ralph Archuleta
  At Large  Uriko Stout
 Naomi Wise
 Kaz Nagai
 Brent Sabati
 Webmaster
  Seiko Cammack
Intern

 

 

 

 


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JASSC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

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