I read on the internet about Cherry Blossom Festival that shall open this Sat, 26 Mar 2011 in Washington. I think this year Cherry Blossom Festival is a most appropriate event to symbolize friendship between the United States and Japan in the wake of one of the world’s worst natural disasters. According to the news that I read, several hundred people gathered at the Washington Monument on a cold evening, some holding Japanese flags or signs of support in the event that organizers held for a fundraising walk and vigil Thursday evening for victims of Japan’s March 11 earthquake and tsunami before the opening of Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday.
Read along below if you want to read more about Cherry Blossom Festival.
—-
WASHINGTON — The flowering trees that symbolize friendship between the United States and Japan are blooming for the 99th time in Washington in the wake of one of the world’s worst natural disasters.
Before the two-week National Cherry Blossom Festival opens Saturday, organizers held a fundraising walk and vigil Thursday evening among the trees for victims of Japan’s March 11 earthquake and tsunami. An estimated 18,000 people have been killed in the disaster.
Several hundred people gathered at the Washington Monument on a cold evening, some holding Japanese flags or signs of support.
Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki told the crowd that his country needs help.
“Everything started on what I call 3/11 – earthquake, tsunami and nuclear incident – and we are still struggling,” he said. “This is a very tough fight, but the consolation is people around the world are trying to be with us.”
Fujisaki said the U.S. sent one of the first rescue teams and military support.
“Really, we need your assistance, and you’re giving that to us,” he said.
After a gathering and moment of silence, the ambassador joined a crowd in walking to the cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin, holding glow sticks. Donation bins lined the sidewalk to benefit American Red Cross relief efforts.
Toshiko Saidel of Maryland brought her three daughters to support the nation where she was born. “A lot of people are suffering right now,” she said. “We just want them to know we support them.”
Seven-year-old Maya Saidel said she has started a toy drive at her suburban Maryland school for students to support children in Japan.
“I’m guessing there’s going to be a lot of toys,” she said, adding that she will ask for more donations Friday during morning announcements at school.
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who represents the District of Columbia in Congress, said the cherry blossoms will be a reminder of Japan’s resiliency. She said the Washington festival also will rally support.
“This year, the cherry blossoms will remind the world to stand for Japan,” Norton said.
“It’s important that we’re taking time to reflect,” said festival director Diana Mayhew. The celebration is a symbol of spring each year and now of the rebirth and rebuilding for Japan, she said.
“Our relationship with Japan is at the heart,” she said.
Fujisaki told The Associated Press he is grateful for such support from U.S. residents, though he declined to ask for further donations. It’s too soon to know how Japan will pay to rebuild the country as the government is still focused on search and rescue, basic human needs and its nuclear reactors, he said.
“I am very grateful that American people are voluntarily extending their hands,” Fujisaki said. “This is really an impressive show of goodwill.”
Contributions for relief efforts have lagged behind fundraising totals in the days after Haiti’s earthquake and after Hurricane Katrina to this point, according to a tally by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
The cherry blossom tradition began with a gift of trees from Japan in 1912. Then-first lady Helen Taft and the wife of Japan’s ambassador planted the first two trees. About 100 of the original 3,000 trees are still growing, while thousands of others have been replaced or grown from the original trees’ genetic line.
During World War II, the festival was suspended. Some trees were vandalized in those years, according to National Park Service records. After the war, the festival grew as Japan rebuilt and a Washington group was formed to stage the festival each year.
The festival draws about 1 million visitors and has become big business for Washington’s tourism industry. Nearly half the visitors travel from out of town, according to the city’s tourism bureau. A study of last year’s festival shows it generated about $126 million in hotel stays and other revenue.
For the first time this year, the festival partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to help people plant their own cherry blossom trees in their yards, touting their value to birds, bees and other wildlife.
Money raised will go to American Red Cross relief efforts. Festival sponsors Safeway and Macy’s each announced $100,000 donations to the fund Wednesday.
Many of Washington’s 3,000 Yoshino cherry trees that circle the Tidal Basin near the Jefferson Memorial were beginning to bloom Thursday morning. The National Park Service has predicted they’ll be in peak bloom next Tuesday through Friday.
“Nothing is in full bloom yet,” said Park Service spokesman Bill Line, who noted that cold overnight temperatures in recent days would preserve the flowers longer – unless any storms bring strong winds that can blow them away.
—-
GAITHERSBURG, Md., March 25, 2011 As the world comes together to support the victims of Japan’s recent earthquake, the U.S. capitol is also preparing to commemorate Japan’s 1912 gift of cherry blossom trees to the United States with the 99th annual National Cherry Blossom Festival. Sodexo, Inc., world leader in Quality of Daily Life solutions, is supporting Japan by upholding the Festival’s focus on friendship, multicultural education and the environment with its sponsorship of the Youth Ambassadors Program and Youth Poster Art Contest for 2011. To demonstrate its support for quake-stricken Japan, the Festival will donate a portion of the profits from the $5 street festival entrance fee to the American Red Cross.
The Sodexo executive team feels that this year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival has a significant meaning for all Americans, because it is an opportunity to reflect on the recent events in Japan and offer our condolences, friendship and support. Now more than ever, it will be important to continue making advances in educating students about the importance of diversity and friendship as we help Japan rebuild its infrastructure and return to normal life.
Each year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is the official harbinger of spring, attracting more than one million visitors to share in Japan’s 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees to the United States, which remains important as a universal symbol of goodwill and friendship. The 16-day festival includes diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts, culture, education and the environment.
Now in its fourth year, the Youth Ambassadors Program helps to educate Washington’s youth (focusing on fourth and fifth graders) about the cultural and international significance of the cherry blossom trees in their communities. Through the program, students learn more about their local history and Japanese culture. They come to understand the importance of the care and maintenance of the trees and help spread the messages of goodwill and friendship.
Additionally, the Youth Poster Art Contest invites students from DC public and charter schools in grades K through 12 to participate by submitting a poster they design about the cherry blossom trees and their message of goodwill and friendship. Entries are judged by a panel, and winners are selected in age-specific categories, as well as one “best-of contest” winner. Winners are acknowledged and Treasury Bonds are awarded at a special pre-Festival ceremony including the winner’s families, teachers, and Festival, DC Government, and sponsor representatives.
To learn more about the 2011 National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Youth Art Poster Contest and Youth Ambassadors Program, please visit: www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
About Sodexo
Sodexo in North America
Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Daily Life Solutions company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On Site Service Solutions in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Motivation Solutions such as Esteem Pass. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $15 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.
Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions
Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations. Based on this conviction, Sodexo acts as the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and employee well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo’s 380,000 employees in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled array of On Site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the fulfillment of its employees and the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates. Cherry Blossom Festival.
—-
Source
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
http://www.prnewswire.com/
—-
I hope above postings can provide our reader with the information that they seek about 2011 Cherry Blossom Festival.
