Event commemorates Japan bombings with lantern lightings - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

Event commemorates Japan bombings with lantern lightings

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ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) -- It's been a yearly tradition in Rochester since 1985. Wednesday marked the 27th Annual Peace Lantern Floating Ceremony as part of the 67th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings.

The event takes place at Silver Lake Park where participants build paper lanterns with Styrofoam bases to float in the lake.

Children and families built and decorated their lanterns while enjoying some live music before setting them afloat.

The observance is to remind those of the seriousness of nuclear war and the lives lost.

"Then when we feel that pain we want to commit ourselves to make and effort to not have this again," event organizer Junko Maruta said.

With the rain pouring down in Rochester around 7 p.m., Junko's backup plan was to still light the lanterns underneath the park shelter.

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