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On April 15th , 2023 US service members

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and residents of Ishigaki Island .

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Okinawa gathered for a memorial service

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honoring three US navy sailors who were

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captured and killed on the island by

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Japanese forces during World War II . I

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think this ceremony takes what was an

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atrocious event in a horrific war in

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world war II when we were at war with

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each other and reflects a wonderful

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partnership and offers a great

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opportunity to reconcile as individuals ,

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as human beings and really to consider

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the importance of peace and stability

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in this region . And it also brings the

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local community in Ishigaki close to

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the American servicemen and women and

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the Americans in the Okinawa Prefecture

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originally dedicated in August of 2001 .

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The memorial looks over the site where

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the ashes of the three sailors were

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scattered in 1945 .

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Reporting from Okinawa , Japan . I'm

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Petty Officer Kelly Meyer .