Letters, Re: Monument marker at Heart Mtn. July 27, from Bacon Sakatani to WY Dept. of Commerce Div. of Parks and Cultural Resources. In part; “I am a former internee of that camp. In 1962, a group of American Legionnaires of that area put up a monument to mark the spot where the camp once stood. They did this with the best of intentions but were totally ignorant of the facts of the camp. The wordings of the plaque are an insult to what occurred there, and I would like to know the department or persons to direct our complaints to.” Reply from Nat’l Register Programs Manager: “We do think the marker serves as an example of how a tragic event can be misrepresented, our feeling is that an additional interpretive sign giving the internees point of view and a brief discussion of how bias can affect the interpretation of history would be more appropriate. The fact that an additional interpretive marker has not been placed at the site is not an issue of insensitivity but rather one of lack of funding.” Etc. Bacon Sakatani then writes to Dr. David Kathka, Director of Parks and Cultural Resources Div., WY Dept. of Commerce. He writes in part: I had a brief conversation with Ms. Sheila Bricher/Wade of your department, and it looks like the marker will not come down. We will start proceedings to put up our own marker from our point of view. With all of the secret information during World War II that have been brought out and the court cases held concerning our wrongful imprisonment at the camp, I can only conclude that the State of Wyoming is still ignorant of the facts. It can be said that the State is more guilty of creating a concentration camp there at Heart Mountain than the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government has acknowledged their wrongdoings with compensations and apologies from Presidents Reagan and Bush. Can a hearing be held in Wyoming to hear both sides of what occurred – from both the American Legion and the former internees? Perhaps then the truth will be known.” Dr. Kathka to Bacon Sakatani (in part): “We also have concerns about the bias present in the American Legon Marder. But the marker is a part of the history of the Heart Mountain Relocation Center representing a particular point of view which was popularly held even if not accurate. We would be derelict to simply remove or change it because then we would also be guilty of ignoring an important although uncomfortable pert of the Center’s history. We do feel the best solution is to place an interpretive sign in the same location, which provides visitors with information from the internees’ perspective and which can also explain how historical perspective can be skewed by the attitudes of those doing the interpreting. The particular marker you find offensive is one of many in the state which represent the bias of a particular group or period. We see these markers as educational opportunities, etc. I really think your idea of a ‘hearing’ is excellent. The Wyoming Council for the Humanities in Wyoming might be willing to fund such a program, etc. People in Wyoming need to hear and to think about all of the different versions of the story and as you say ‘perhaps, thus will the truth be known’. The unfortunate reality of the situation is that the legislature has not funded the Monuments and Markers program for a number of years. We simply have no funds to erect a new sign at that location. Etc. We no longer allow the type of rock markers in the highway right-of-way because of safety and maintenance concerns, so the only type of sign available to you is our standard 4’ x 6’ aluminum interpretive sign which runs app. $2,200 w/o graphics, etc.” Bacon Sakatani did receive a letter from the Wyoming Council for the Humanities, encouraging him to pursue a public forum. Aug. 7, Bacon writes to Ann Noble: “I wrote to the State of Wyoming requesting information regarding the American Legion monument at Heart Mountain. I was finally referred to the Wyoming Council for the Humanities and received a letter from Mr. Massie today, and lo and behold, you are the PRESIDENT of the organization. This is not official business of the Council. I talked to Mr. Massie and he will send me an application for a grant to have some sort of a forum in Powell so that the internees can give testimonies of their experiences at Heart Mtn. Relocation Center.” Etc.