February 19, Day of Remembrance

February 19 is Day of Remembrance, the date in 1942 when FDR signed Executive Order 9066 which led to the forced removal and mass incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans.

Tigard Teammate Toby Asai Loftus will perform his work, “How Could I Forget” in honor of his mother, Mitzi Asai Loftus, whose entire family was incarcerated – except for her brothers who served in the U.S Armed Forces in the Pacific Theater.  “How Could I Forget” is work for solo viola and spoken word. The text is excerpted from Mitzi’s recently published memoir, “From Thorns To Blossoms” (OSU Press, 2024), set to music composed by Toby. Toby has performed on the viola with the Newport Symphony Orchestra for over 20 years.

Following the performance, Toby will welcome questions and discussion about Japanese American incarceration and his family’s experience.