Sato Elementary Chestnut Dedication Honors Sato Family

From Sato Elementary School: Sato Elementary School will hold a Tree Dedication Ceremony on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Sato Elementary School, 7775 NW Kaiser Road, Portland.

The Sato family has donated a chestnut tree and a bronze plaque commemorating the family, Shin Sato and the Bethany Presbyterian Church. Students, staff, community members and honored guests will gather in front of the school to dedicate the tree and plaque. The ceremony will feature a Color Guard and presentation of the flag to the family and students will participate in a pebble ceremony.

The Sato family originated from Nagasaki, Japan. After moving from Washington State to the Bethany area of Washington County, Oregon, Yoshinosuke and Asano Sato operated a small farm while raising their family: Shin, Roy and Marie. They were highly respected members of Bethany Presbyterian Church for many decades. Their berry and vegetable farm provided popular summer jobs for many children in the area.

Tragically, the Japanese naval attack on US bases in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, changed the Sato’s American dream in December 1941.

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Following internment, the Sato’s returned to their Bethany home, farm and church. Their family cemetery plot lies just southeast across Kaiser Road in the Bethany Presbyterian Cemetery. To honor them, their story of love, devotion and sacrifice must be remembered and passed on to all Americans.

Shin Sato, eldest son of the Satos, was part of the Japanese 442 regiment combat team of the United States Army during World War II - as was his brother Roy, who was injured twice. Shin, who went to Bethany School, Beaverton High School, and Pacific University, was killed in action in 1944. His remains were returned for burialin Bethany Presbyterian Cemetery in 1949.

For more information, please contact Annie Pleau at 503-356-2530.

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