U.S. Immigration Guide: Established in 1967, the National Museum of the Pacific War is located in a former hotel in Fredericksburg, in the heart of Texas. Covering an area of 24,000 square meters, it was built to commemorate the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for peace during the Pacific War of World War II. It is also the only museum in the United States that provides a comprehensive overview of the Pacific War. Recently, a Xinhua News Agency reporter made a special trip to visit this museum. Looking out, the museum, with the American Stars and Stripes flying at its top on the main street of Fredericksburg, is very conspicuous. Just like its former nickname "Steamboat," it resembles a giant ship sailing toward the shores of peace. Beside the other museum buildings stands a bronze statue of General Nimitz, the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet during World War II, dressed in his military uniform.
Mr. Vineyard, the museum's public relations director, told the reporter that the museum was originally established to commemorate Nimitz, a legendary hero who was born in Fredericksburg and rose to prominence during World War II. Nimitz was appointed in a time of crisis and participated in planning famous battles such as the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Battle of Midway, the Battle of Iwo Jima, and the air raids on Tokyo, Japan, playing a vital role in the victory of the Pacific War. On September 2, 1945, Nimitz represented the United States at the Japanese surrender ceremony aboard the USS Missouri. To honor Nimitz, the United States also named the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers developed in the 1970s after him. The museum was originally a hotel run by Nimitz's grandfather. Initially, Nimitz refused to have it named after him, insisting that the museum should be established to commemorate all the American heroes who fought alongside him. As the collection grew, the museum expanded, and in 2000, it was officially named the National Museum of the Pacific War. Today, the museum has expanded into a complex that includes the Nimitz Museum, which details his life; the George H.W. Bush Gallery, which introduces the Pacific War; the Pacific Combat Zone, which showcases battle conditions; the Plaza of Presidents, which introduces the 10 U.S. Presidents who served in World War II; and a memorial garden to honor the fallen. Its indoor exhibition area now exceeds 4,645 square meters, with over 50,000 artifacts and more than 4,000 oral history recordings. Here, one can find highly interactive exhibits, world-class multimedia presentations, and unique items such as a model of the "Fat Man" atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.
Entering the main hall of over 3,000 square meters—the Bush Gallery—one finds a wealth of exhibits, detailed historical records, and illustrated displays. There are video footage and oral history recordings, as well as large weapon displays such as tanks, aircraft, submarines, and landing craft, alongside small arms and military uniforms. It can be said that entering the Bush Gallery is like stepping into a historical corridor of the Pacific War, providing a three-dimensional and comprehensive understanding of the causes, progress, and results of the war. In particular, the expansion, aggression, brutality, and tragic end of Japanese militarism are unforgettable. There is a detailed explanation of the Nanjing Massacre here: the attack on Nanjing is described as a "carnival of death," where thousands of Chinese civilians were either killed by artillery fire or driven into the Yangtze River to drown. When the invading Japanese troops entered Nanjing on December 14, 1937, they began a frenzy of massacres, rapes, and looting that lasted until the New Year. Pressing the button, the scenes of Japanese atrocities appearing on the screen are shameful, and this is undoubtedly a resounding slap in the face to those Japanese right-wing elements who continue to deny the Nanjing Massacre.
Currently, the museum receives 150,000 to 200,000 visitors from the United States and around the world each year. Many people leave the museum with heavy hearts and deep contemplation, their greatest wish being that the world will never again experience a catastrophe like the Pacific War. Maintaining world peace is not only a matter of national and global importance but also an inescapable responsibility for everyone. The words of the Hispanic-American writer George Santayana displayed in the museum are very enlightening: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Everything displayed in this museum is a mourning for the fallen heroes, a tribute to the heroes and the people, a respect for history, and a warning for today and the future, as well as an infinite longing for peace.