MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Christmas is considered by many around the world as a time for peace and goodwill.
In the world today, with countries divided by different languages and beliefs, and people more concerned with the stress of shopping for the season, many forget the fundamentals of Christmas.
Seeking to build lasting friendships and accomplish peace and goodwill, students of Matthew C. Perry Elementary School here and Kawashimo Elementary School exchanged Christmas wreaths at the Iwakuni City Town Hall building Dec. 15.
The wreath exchange was part of a U.S.-Japan Friendship Exchange sponsored by the Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau in conjunction with Iwakuni City, the Municipal Board of Education and the station.
Col. Michael A. O’Halloran, station commanding officer, and Yoshihiko Fukuda, Iwakuni Mayor, were on hand officiating the wreath exchange ceremony.
“I think it’s wonderful for school children from both American and Japanese schools to make the same thing for the same purpose and exchange them,” said Fukuda. “I think only Iwakuni City, a community with the best neighborhoods, can offer these opportunities. I hope you, with different nationalities, continue to have goodwill exchanges in the future as good friends living in the same area.”
Though speaking different languages and having different beliefs, approximately 10 M.C. Perry Elementary students and 8 Kawashimo Elementary School students came together in friendship to observe the traditions of Christmas.
“When you give things to people, it’s really kind and caring,” said Ally Strauss, a 10-year-old student of M.C. Perry Elementary. “Instead of just getting and getting, you can actually give to people showing that there’s lots of Christmas spirit and things like that. We are all, all 10 of us, are trying to show that M.C. Perry is a very good school and maybe one day they might want to check it out. It would be very cool to see them again.”
Despite their cultural differences, the Japanese students felt the same way as the American students did.
Takaki Hanakawa, an 11-year-old student of Kawashimo Elementary said he believed the wreath exchange fitted well with what Christmas is about in giving to each other and making new friends.
“I look forward to Christmas every year,” said Hanakawa. “Events like this are just one of the advantages to the season.”
Some of the adults present at the wreath exchange recognized what sort of effect the event could have on the children for the future.
“I think we share a common language of giving and friendship,” said Shelia Carey, M.C. Perry Elementary School principal. “If we instill in our children this love of cultural diversity, it’s opening a world of opportunity for them and it’s showing them that we are more similar than we are different. We all want the same thing in the world, peace.”
Another U.S.-Japan Friendship Exchange is scheduled for the end of February, when students will gather, build and fly kites together.