Topaz deserves special designation

The Web site of the Topaz Museum in Delta offers this statement of purpose: "To preserve the Topaz internment experience during World War II; to interpret its impact on the internees, their families, and the citizens of Millard County; and to educate the public in order to prevent a recurrence of a similar denial of American civil rights."

Indeed, we must not forget the internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II. Due to wartime hysteria, some 110,000 men, women and children were incarcerated for up to four years in 10 "relocation centers" scattered in remote locations throughout the United States. None of these individuals were either charged or convicted of any crimes.

The history and physical remnants of Topaz Internment Camp, where some 8,100 internees were held behind barbed-wire fences in a community about one square mile in size, have been preserved by Topaz Museum. This past week, however, their efforts may have received a boost when the internment camp was designated a national historic landmark by the National Park Service. The designation is considered to be between a designation as a National Register of Historic Places and national monument status.

Hopefully, the designation will result in more financial resources to continue to research, interpret and protect the internment camp. Late last year, President Bush signed a bill intended to set aside $38 million to conduct these activities at all 10 internment camps. The funds have not yet materialized.

Utah's congressional delegation should continue to seek this funding because there is much to learn about the internment of the Japanese-Americans during World War II. It was a gross violation of their civil rights, and it should stand as an example of what not to do when facing an international crisis. The U.S. government did not formally apologize to internment camp survivors until 1988, and some reparations have been paid, but by then some of the internees had died.

The best tribute at this point would be to fully document the experiences at Topaz and, to whatever extent possible, continue to preserve and re-create the physical surroundings of the internment camp.