Mistakes on Ted Tanouye Memorial at Torrance High School

 

I have known about this memorial for many years. I've had a chance to visit from time to time, and finally, I had a chance to address a more pertinent issue. 3 years ago, I asked one of the Torrance city council members to fix a spelling error on the memorial. 3 years later, nothing has happened. Instead, there was a lot of drama and discussion about renaming a park or expanding the current memorial in front of Torrance High School. Before expanding on the memory of our hometown hero, Medal of Honor winner, we need to ensure that the current memorial properly represents him. I think it's pretty embarrassing that there's a spelling error, "seperate", on the bottom line of the first plaque. Also, I researched the statistic on the first panel, which states that 110,000 Japanese Americans were interned. The more accurate number is 125,000. If the Go For Broke Foundation, which helped create the plaque and the memorial, was holding off on repair because of the extensive time and cost, over one mistake, then also correcting the proper numbers of interned Americans should all the more justify redoing the plaque in its entirety.

For the record, I have submitted the following statement and request to the Torrance City Council:

Torrance City Council and Go For Broke Foundation:

I am grateful for the ongoing discussion in the city of Torrance regarding proper commemoration for our Hometown Medal of Honor recipient Ted "Tak" Tanouye.

However, I am displeased with the drama regarding whether we should rename a park or refurbish and expand the current memorial in front of Torrance High School.

Instead of expanding, how about improving the current memorial?

There are two errors on the Ted Tanouye Memorial in front of Torrance High School, which should be addressed as soon as possible.

1. The word "separate" is spelled wrong (seperate) in the last line of the first plaque (see attached photo)
2. The plaque reads that 110,000 Japanese Americans were interned during WWII. More accurate estimates have concluded that 125,000 Japanese Americans were interned.

Here's data regarding more accurate figures:

https://densho.org/catalyst/how-many-japanese-americans-were-incarcerated-during-wwii/

https://www.archives.gov/research/aapi/ww2/incarceration

https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/names-of-japanese-americans-forcibly-imprisoned/

Because of the fixed nature of memorials, I understand that the memorialists may have hoped to delay repair. It would be inartful to chisel out one word and correct it.

However, with the more accurate information about the number of victims of Executive Order 9066, a full restoration of the plaques could be justified, since TWO mistakes would be corrected.

I do stress that the spelling error should be fixed, above all. It's embarrassing, considering that the site is right across from a high school!

What steps will the city take to repair the spelling error, at the very least?

I must add another disappointment, because I shared my concern about the spelling error with Councilman Kaji three years ago, and nothing has been done. All the discussion about renaming sites should have been delayed until the errors had been fixed on the current memorial outside of Torrance High School.

Please respond.