This is a day of significance for the Japanese American Community.  On this day in 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Executive Order 9066, which gave the U.S. Army the authority to forcibly remove civilians from military zones established in Washington, Oregon and California during World War II. ​ This set into motion the incarceration of persons of Japanese ancestry into concentration  camps during World War II.  ​ 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry  were forces to abandon their jobs, homes and lives and relocated  to 10 concentration camps in remote regions of the country. ​ "Every February, the Japanese American community commemorates Executive Order 9066 as a reminder of the impact the incarceration experience has had on our families, our community, and our country. It is an opportunity to educate others on the fragility of civil liberties in times of crisis, and the importance of remaining vigilant in protecting the rights and freedoms of all." (Excerpt from JACL)