Local Veteran Shares Story on Memorial Day

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Story Published: May 26, 2008 at 5:34 PM MST

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 8:43 PM MST

By Hasti Taghi

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"so they came and took me and put me in a concentration camp."

Ken Ugaki remembers life shortly after Pearl Harbor. Being a Japanese-American he's experienced the loss of freedom while in an internment camp... But that didn't stop him from fighting for the freedom of others.

"they said will you kill or be killed. I said 'kill'."

Ugaki was sent overseas to fight on the American side. He is proud to talk of standing up for the U.S.

"I said...Japan will never win this war. We will beat you."

Men like Ugaki and those who were not as fortunate to make it back are being celebrated throughout the day today.

"if it wasn't for them we wouldn't have our freedoms."

With wreaths... Songs...prayers...and poems... Locals remembered the lives lost and those forever changed to make our freedom a possibility.

"do you consider yourself an American"
"yes."
"A proud American?"
"A PROUD AMERICAN!"

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