Seventy-four years ago this Wednesday, March 30, Japanese Americans living on the island were forced to leave their homes to live in interment camps.

Inspired by the unique legacy of a community that welcomed their Japanese American friends and neighbors back after the war ended, volunteers will gather from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 30 at the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial, offering landscaping maintenance and improvements to the National Historic Site, which is located at Pritchard Park, 4192 Eagle Harbor Drive.

Everyone is welcome to drop by, pitch in and help. Please wear appropriate work clothing and gloves and bring your own gardening tools.

There will be an informal commemoration to celebrate the broad community partnership that made the memorial site a reality at 11 a.m. — the approximate time when the ferry Kehloken departed the Eagledale Ferry Dock with 227 Bainbridge Island men, women and children on board.