By Tom McClimon
September 12, 2005

Participating in the 60th Anniversary events of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Conference President Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill traveled to Hiroshima where she addressed the 6th World Conference of Mayors for Peace and participated in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony and dedicated a park bench at Peace Memorial Park. Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran accompanied O'Neill to these events. It was the first time that a Conference of Mayors President had been asked to participate in the official ceremonies as well as the first time that an American organization had been granted approval to place a memorial in Peace Park.

O'Neill and Cochran were part of the official participants at the ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima on August 6th and attended by tens of thousands of people. Representing the Conference of Mayors, they among 20 officials asked to place wreaths of flowers honoring those who had died as well as honoring the call for peace in the world. Others placing wreaths included Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba, Speaker of Japans- House of Representatives, President of Japan's House of Councillors, Chief Justice of Japan's Supreme Court, representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Governor of the Hiroshima Prefecture, and representatives of atomic bomb survivors and their families.

As part of the ceremony, Akiba issued his Peace Declaration, which includes a call to end the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the world. In his declaration, Akiba singled out The United States Conference of Mayors as part of a "circle of cooperation" that includes the European Parliament and the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War that will work towards the abolishment of nuclear weapons. Describing it as "a time of inheritance, of awakening and of commitment<0x2026>to the abolishment of nuclear weapons and the realization of genuine world peace," Akiba quoted the "hibakusha" warning from the bomb survivors that, "No one else should ever suffer as we did."

The ceremonial events also included a minute of silence at the moment the bomb detonated, remarks by Prime Minister Koizumi and other top national leaders, the releasing of 1000 doves for peace, a commitment to peace by children, and various musical numbers.

On August 5, the day preceding the 60th anniversary events, O'Neill and Cochran presented a park bench on behalf of the Conference of Mayors to the city of Hiroshima in Peace Memorial Park. The park bench is the only park bench in Peace Park given by an American organization. In presenting the park bench to Akiba, O'Neill recalled the Conference's long history in advocating for a decrease in the threat of nuclear weapons. "I hope that this park bench will serve as a symbol of America's cities efforts to help end the spread of nuclear weapons," stated O'Neill. Cochran in his remarks recalled the Conference's long partnership with Japanese cities and presented the park bench in the hopes of strengthening the bond between American and Japanese cities.

Inscribed on a plague on the bench are these words: "Donated with Hope for Peace on the 60th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing, August 6, 2005, Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill, President, Tom Cochran, Executive Director, The United States Conference of Mayors, Washington, D.C. USA."

In accepting the bench, Akiba thanked the Conference of its work for peace and for its partnership with Japanese cities. He hoped that the park bench causes those to use it to reflect on their responsibility never to "repeat this evil."

Following its dedication the park bench, which sits directly across from the Atomic Bomb Dome, the only remaining monument from the atomic bombing, proved popular with a group of survivors and their families from the atomic bombing.

Speaking to the attendees in the 6th General Conference of Mayors for Peace, O'Neill talked about the Conference's long history in advocating for a decrease in, and ultimate elimination of the threat of nuclear weapons. Declaring that, "The U.S. Conference of Mayors will remain engaged in this matter until cities are no longer under the threat of nuclear devastation." O'Neill encouraged the participants to ask their countries- mayors associations to pass resolutions in support of the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Representatives from over 30 nations participated in the conference including the mayors of Hanover, Germany; Christchurch, New Zealand; Geneva, Switzerland; Manchester, England; and Volgograd, Russia.

At the meeting's conclusion, the conferees endorsed the 2020 Vision Campaign to Ban Nuclear Weapons. It calls for a nuclear-free world by the year 2020 and calls for all the world's nuclear powers to take steps to eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons.