August 6, 2018 is the 73rd anniversary of the use of an atomic weapon for the first time, when Hiroshima was bombed. Last night I attended a remembrance of that tragic day at the site of the Japanese Bell of Peace and Friendship, on the grounds of the Iowa State Capitol. I was glad to see a number of F/friends there.

Des Moines mayor Frank Cownie spoke about the city’s sister city, Kofu, Japan.

I was moved that the event included a tribute to Sherry Hutchison for her relentless and inspiring work for peace. Sherry was co-clerk of the Peace and Social Concerns Committee of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative), helping me learn how to clerk.

Here is a link to all of the photos:  https://1drv.ms/f/s!Avb9bFhezZpPiapFJsXey-2iHLgjYA

The co-sponsors were Catholic Peace Ministry; Church Women United, DM Area Unit; Des Moines Area Religious Council; Des Moines Area Sisters of Humility; Des Moines Catholic Worker; Des Moines Ecumenical Committee for Peace; Des Moines Intentional Eucharistic Community; Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines Sister Council; First Unitarian Church of Des Moines; Iowa Peace Network; Iowa Poor People’s Campaign; Mary Ann Koch; Methodist Federation for Social Action; Plymouth U.C.C. Peace Committee; STAR*PAC; Veterans for Peace, Chapter 163; Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Des Moines  Branch.