The Ashland Branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom will commemorate the US nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug 6, 2006 on the Ashland Plaza, 8:16 am until dusk. The remembrance of the 260,000 Japanese civilians killed with the first use of atomic weapons in 1945 will begin Sunday August 6th at 8:16 am with the traditional lighting of the Hiroshima flame. Ashland, a Nuclear Free Zone since 1982, is a member of the international group Mayors for Peace. As of July 21, 2006, membership of Mayors for Peace stood at 1,403 cities in 119 countries and regions. For more information on the national campaign, see www.mayorsforpeace.org.

The vigil is an opportunity to reflect upon how we choose to respond to the critical challenges of the US nuclear policy, including the emerging uranium economy, corporate war profits and the diversion of resources to nuclearism despite the risks. Petitions and postcards will be available at the vigil to sign and support a nuclear free future. The vigil will end with a closing ceremony extinguishing the flame at dusk with singing by the members of the Ashland Peace Choir. Peace Choir members will be singing in solidarity with the Ashland Peace Choir who will be singing on the same day at the official Hiroshima Japan Commemoration.