Our 29th Annual Sadako Peace Day, held in the Sadako Peace Garden at La Casa de Maria in Santa Barbara on August 9, was a meaningful and touching event for the hundred or so members of our community and all who participated in the proceedings. Attendees were able to enjoy the beautiful garden on La Casa grounds, as well as each other’s company, while having the opportunity to deeply reflect on the story of Sadako, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and all innocent victims of war. The lineup featured music by Bob Sedivy (on the shakuhachi) and Hal Maynard and Sandy Jones, poetry readings by Emma Trelles, Perie Longo, and David Starkey (all former Santa Barbara Poet Laureats), and welcome remarks by Jean Holsten (Executive Director of La Casa de Maria) and Ivana Hughes, as well as keynote remarks by Jimmy Hara, the Vice Chair of our Board. We are grateful to all who came to spend this memorable evening with us and to all who contributed to make it so. We invite you to watch the program and view the photos from the event below.
All photos by Rick Carter
Sadako Peace Garden at La Casa de Maria
Bob Sedivy on the shakuhachi
Before the start
Listening to the shakuhachi
Montecito hills
Ivana Hughes with Anastasia Shakhidzhanova (NAPF Intern) and friends
Jean Holsten, Executive Director of La Casa de Maria, welcoming everyone to the grounds
Hal Maynard and Sandy Jones in performance
Emma Trelles, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Emerita
Jimmy Hara, giving the keynote address
Ivana Hughes, President of NAPF
David Starkey, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Emeritus
Judy Lipton (psychiatrist and author) with Martha
Perie Longo, Member of the NAPF Board of Directors, Chair of NAPF Poetry Committee, and Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Emerita
Hal Maynard and Sandy Jones in the Sadako Peace Garden