I was surprised and disappointed that the Downwinders did not appear on the agenda for this event, so I sent this note to the organizers. I’d appreciate your sharing with anyone you think might be interested or supportive.
Dear Conference Organizers:
I am writing with regard to Hanford’s upcoming 70th Anniversary Commemoration of the Manhattan Project. To the best of my understanding, you are involved in planning events on the agenda for the celebration.
I am the child of early Hanford workers. My father was a nuclear engineer at Hanford 1947-60 and my mother worked there as well until I was born. I was born in late 1950 in Kadlec Hospital and grew up in an F house. I have included a photo of me with my childhood friends on the front stoop of my house in Richland.
When I was first alerted to the agenda for the 70th anniversary commemoration events, I was impressed that you had succeeded in putting together a festive event, with James Bond themed night, plutonium passes, and inclusion of two authors who will do a thorough and excellent job of presenting the science and early history of the development of the Hanford site. I know that my parents, had they survived, would have very much enjoyed the events you have planned.
I understand that those of you who are organizing this commemoration more likely than not did not live in the Hanford area during the early years of Hanford operations. You are most likely too young to have lived through those years. Those of us who were born and raised in Richland, the TriCities, and downwind of the facility are truly the living history of Hanford.
I firmly believe that it was merely an oversight that those of us who now carry the scars of Hanford were omitted from the agenda.
I have consulted with others who, like myself, are often referred to as “downwinders”; those who grew up in the Tricities or, within the regions documented to have received offsite radiation releases from the Hanford facility. We have developed the following request:
In order to address this oversight in omitting the Downwinders from the agenda for the commemoration ceremonies, we respectfully request the following:
1. the addition of Kate Brown, the author of Plutopia, to the agenda for the commemoration. We would also like to have Michael D’Antonio present if possible.
2. Immediately following the presentations by Kate Brown and Michael D’Antonio, that a panel of several Downwinders be included, to discuss Hanford from a health perspective.
We look forward to hearing from you. With the addition of the stories of those of us who embody the history of Hanford operations, this will be a very meaningful commemoration.
trisha pritikin
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