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It was during his visit to the Arizona Memorial in 1991 when Abe became close friends with Mr. Richard Fiske, who served as a Marine Private bugler in 1941 on board the doomed USS West Virginia. After their friendship began, Abe forwarded money to Fiske each year for flowers (two roses) to be laid at the Arizona Memorial on the last Sunday of each month. |
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The roses symbolized the American and Japanese troops who had died in war. Fiske would then play taps on his bugle for the American victims, followed by taps for the Japanese victims. This simple ceremony continued for 12 years until Richard Fiske passed away in 2004 at the age of 82. His friend and one-time enemy Zenji Abe died in 2007 at the age of 90. |
