Each year on August 6, the City of Hiroshima holds a Peace Memorial Ceremony to recognize the lives lost in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as to pray for the realization of everlasting world peace.

As past president of The United States Conference of Mayors, Plusquellic and USCM CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran traveled to Japan for the ceremony today and will also participate in the General Conference of Mayors for Peace in Nagasaki from Friday, August 7 to Monday, August 10.

Plusquellic and Cochran joined Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba in the ceremony by placing a wreath at a park bench, donated by The U.S. Conference of Mayors, and dedicated in 2005, at Peace Memorial Park.

Plusquellic will address the Mayors for Peace Conference on Saturday and lead a panel discussion Monday. He will also place a wreath at the Peace Center in Nagasaki. Approximately 2,870 cities in 134 countries and regions around the world are members of Mayors for Peace organization.

The United States Conference of Mayors will continue to work with Mayors for Peace to ever strengthen our vision, ideals, and our commitment to a nuclear-free world," said Plusquellic.

For decades, the USCM has strongly advocated a decrease in, and elimination of, the threat of nuclear weapons. In 2004, the mayors of the United States passed a resolution that declared, "Weapons of mass destruction have no place in a civilized world," and called for the commencement of negotiations on the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons. This past June, the USCM unanimously adopted a resolution calling upon the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament to adopt 2020 as the target date for achieving a nuclear-free world.

Mayor Plusquellic’s expenses for the trip are being paid by the USCM. His travel to Japan is consistent with the amended travel policy for city employees imposed by the Mayor last week, which suspended travel except in limited circumstances, including where the expenses are being paid by another organization.

On Tuesday, August 11, the Mayor will take advantage of his already being in Japan to make an official visit on behalf of the City to the headquarters of Bridgestone, which last year announced that it would retain 1,000 employees in the city and build a new Technical Center in Akron as part of a $100 million development. The Mayor, who called on officials when he was in Tokyo last year, will use this opportunity to thank top Bridgestone executives.