Sun Myung Moon
August 20, 1986
Belvedere
Father with Hyun Jin Nim at East Garden on August 20, 1986.
"This is not a day to celebrate but to commemorate," said Ambassador Han in his opening remarks about the significance of August 20, 1986 -- the one-year anniversary of Father's release from Danbury. Japanese members from all over the United States and Western members from the New York area had been invited to Belvedere to honor True Parents and spend this memorable day with them.
Father asked the Japanese members to sit up front. No one had expected that all of the speeches would be either given or translated into Japanese, yet Father jokingly remarked that since the Japanese members outnumbered the Western members, he could not help but speak in Japanese, according to democratic principles. Several Japanese members sat among the Westerners at the sides and back and translated for them.
True Mother got up to say a few words, and she tearfully recalled her feelings during Father's imprisonment. Ye Jin Nim, In Jin Nim, Kook Jin Nim, Jin Whi Nim, and Jin Sung Nim also shared their hearts. It is nearly impossible to reiterate in print their deep emotions which moved some of the audience to tears.
In a very short but powerful message Mr. Takeru Kamiyama encouraged the members to repent, and rededicate themselves to God and True Parents. He apologized to Father and Mother that the Japanese members had failed to accomplish their mission in America, and representing all of them he made a full bow to True Parents in repentance.
Father spoke for about 2 1/2 hours, addressing especially the Japanese members. He reminded them strongly that they are called at this most critical time to help save the nation of America, and asked them to create the atmosphere for the heavenly tradition to be established. We will be printing excerpts from only the first part of the speech.
After lunch Father invited all the Japanese members to East Garden and those members who had never been there before. The day concluded with a leaders' conference.