Fredericksburg, TX – On Saturday, August 2, 2025, the National Museum of the Pacific War will host two special screenings of the award-winning documentary Paper Lanterns, a powerful exploration of remembrance, resilience, and reconciliation in the wake of the Hiroshima atomic bombing.
Barry Frechette and produced by Nobuko Saito Cleary, Paper Lanterns tells the moving true story of Shigeaki Mori, a hibakusha (A-bomb survivor) who spent decades uncovering the fate of 12 American prisoners of war killed in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. These men—captured just days before the bombing—were among the tens of thousands of victims whose stories were lost to history.
Determined to give them dignity and recognition, Mori’s years-long efforts led to their inclusion in the Hiroshima Peace Museum and brought long-awaited answers to their families. Through this poignant film, viewers witness the extraordinary compassion and commitment of one man to bridge cultures and heal wounds left by war.
Date: Saturday, August 2, 2025
Showtimes: 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Location: National Museum of the Pacific War
Admission: Free with museum entry
For more information about this and other programs, visit www.pacificwarmuseum.org.
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About the Admiral Nimitz Foundation
The Admiral Nimitz Foundation was established in 1971 as a 501(c)(3) Texas Corporation to
provide additional development funding for the Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Naval Museum,
a museum honoring Fredericksburg’s native son and Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces,
Pacific Ocean Area. The sole purpose of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation is to raise funds for the
National Museum of the Pacific War and to manage its operation.
About the National Museum of the Pacific War
The National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW), founded in 1967, is the only institution in the
continental United States dedicated exclusively to telling the story of the Pacific and Asiatic
Theaters in World War II. The Museum annually welcomes more than 120,000 visitors, including
at least 15,000 students from across the state. The museum sits on six acres in downtown
Fredericksburg, Texas featuring three galleries with more than 55,000 square feet of exhibit
space, 40 media installations, approximately 900 artifacts, 15 macro-artifacts, and hundreds of
photographs. The Museum is a Texas Historical Commission Property, managed and supported
by The Admiral Nimitz Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. For more information,
visit http://www.pacificwarmuseum.org. Follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Smithsonian Affiliations
Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program that develops long-term collaborative
partnerships with museums, educational, and cultural organizations to share Smithsonian
collections, build collaborative networks, and engage learners of all ages with Smithsonian
resources. More information is available at www.affiliations.si.edu.
