From June, 1944 to August, 1945 to April 10th, 1982: From war with the Axis to "The Axis Wedding."
I got to see up close what time had wrought, and what time had healed
My brother and I had a double wedding in 1982. His wife was from Japan, and my wife was from Germany. The parents came, of course. Unfortunately, none of the parents spoke the languages of any of the others. But they were all beyond gracious. They were friendly, trying their best to make out and remember words in the unfamiliar languages of the others.
The Washington press, of which my father was a member, dubbed it "the Axis wedding," but as the guests (quite numerous) were from North America, South America, Europe and Asia, it looked more like an informal meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. We all talked openly about what had happened 40 years before. My generation translated. No one papered over what had happened during the war--but also said how good it felt to think what progress the world had made. In less than ten years, my sister-in-law went from being a bank teller in Tokyo to vice-director of the World Bank (for Asia) in Washington. We all came from countries that been involved in horrors. We all had moved on to the point that there could even be such a wedding just forty years after our countries were locked in mortal combat for the soul of the world. Of the four children that resulted from that wedding, partners have had roots in the USA, Israel, Germany and Russia. As long as all that is possible, we will not give up hope, nor condemn children for the sins of their grandparents' generation.
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gives me hope that our current world can emulate their examples. Your photo demonstrates how many advances were made in less than 40 years, by people who worked for a common good and valued peace & freedom. I hope we have not become too politically fractured, and the US can once again work to promote freedoms, equality and a better standard of living for all people.
Thank you for sharing the lovely photo! 
