ASTORIA, Ore.— American veterans of World War II have given a local historian five flags they got from Japanese soldiers, with the intention the banners be returned to families who sent them off to war more than seven decades ago.
The Daily Astorian reports that historian Rex Ziak has created a nonprofit organization to encourage the return of the souvenirs, considered personal items that were prepared by family members for individual soldiers.
Ziak said during a ceremony Monday at the Columbia River Maritime Museum the flags signified that the people who cared for a soldier were going to war with him.
He says he will now attempt to locate the families in Japan.