THUNDER BAY – Seventy-one years ago the city of Gifu, Japan was nearly bombed out of existence.
It was the dying days of the Second World War, July 9, 1945 to be exact. Within a 30 minute span, 131 allied aircraft dropped 907 tonnes of bombs on Gifu City, setting off a nighttime inferno that scorched a two-mile radius in the centre of the heavily populated community.
When the last flames flickered out, 900 were dead, 1,200 were injured and 100,000 left homeless.
On Thursday, a delegation from Gifu City helped local dignitaries ring Thunder Bay’s Peace Bell, a call for everlasting peace and for the end of hostilities around the world.
Gifu City Mayor Shigemitsu Hosoe told the dozens who gathered at city hall for the ceremony it was a night of horrors.
“The town of Gifu disappeared in only one night,” Hosoe said.
“The Peace Bell began for mourning the victims of the Gifu air raid. Also to hand down this war of inhumanity and disaster from generation to generation. The history of humans is the history of war. In 2016, even now, many precious lives are taken away by terrorism and conflicts. It is a huge menace for people who wish peace in the world.”
Hosoe then said it’s time for today’s generation to look to the future, by delivering a message of peace to all countries.
“We, Gifu City, vow to deepen the bonds of our sister city, Thunder Bay, and continue to make world peace a reality.”
Red River Coun. Brian McKinnon, Thunder Bay’s sister city chairman, said the ceremony is held in scores of cities around the world, usually on July 9, but was delayed in Thunder Bay this year because the 22-member strong delegation was visiting this week.
It’s important to continue on an annual basis, he added.
“It’s just an acknowledgement of what hopefully people can do individually and collectively to make peace happen in the world,” McKinnon said.
Several dignitaries, including Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins, spoke during the 45-minute ceremony, then helped ring the bell afterward.
“We must keep peace amongst us all. We must work to keep that peace and harmony, to keep our families safe, keep our country safe, keep our lands growing in a prosperous way,” Collins said.
