Thanks To Our Sister City Friends!

Last week, Wenatchee was honored to have delegates from our Sister City, Misawa, Japan, here for the Apple Blossom Festival.

The relationship between Wenatchee/East Wenatchee and Misawa goes back  to the historic 1931 trans-Pacific flight of the “Miss Veedol” airplane from Misawa to East Wenatchee, piloted by Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon – it was the common bond between the two cities.

And that’s a bond that has endured.

A large delegation of North Central Washington residents flew to Misawa in 1981 to attend the official signing of the sister city document. The group was welcomed at Misawa airport by a large crowd, and then taken to Misawa City Hall where they were greeted by the Mayor, city councilmen and dignitaries of Misawa. The signing of the sister city document took place before a standing-room only crowd.

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The delegation spent a week in Misawa where they were treated to sightseeing excursions, dinners, a tea ceremony and other events. They returned to Wenatchee treasuring memories of new friends and a better understanding of the relationship between the two cities.

Since that time, the two cities have exchanged annual visits by dignitaries and representatives at their respective festivals (the Misawa summer festival in August and our Apple Blossom Festival in May).

In August of 1991, another large group from Wenatchee attended the Misawa summer festival to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the sister city relationship and the 60th anniversary of the historic flight.

Last week, the Japanese delegates for this year (most of whom are school children) rode in the Apple Blossom parade, canoed on the Columbia River as part of the Museum’s David Thompson experience and dined with the the Mayor.

We look forward to seeing out Sister City friends again soon!

For more information on the historic flight of the Miss Veedol, see The Spirit of Wenatchee Web site.