Wenatchee Valley welcomes Misawa delegation with ceremony at Pangborn

EAST WENATCHEE — With handshakes, smiles and a familiar sense of reunion, the Wenatchee Valley welcomed its sister city delegation from Misawa, Japan, on Tuesday at the newly renovated general aviation terminal at Pangborn Memorial Airport.

The annual visit, part of a decades-long exchange between the two communities, brought a group of students and adult delegates to the valley for five days of cultural exchange, host family stays and participation in Apple Blossom Festival events.

East Wenatchee Mayor Jerrilea Crawford opened the ceremony by emphasizing the effort behind the visit and the meaning behind the relationship.

“A visit like this does not happen by chance,” she said. “It takes months of planning, countless emails and phone calls, and a great deal of care from people in both communities who believe that these relationships matter.”

Crawford described the sister city partnership as something that extends beyond formal visits, pointing to shared values and long-term connections between the two communities.

“It’s about learning from one another, sharing traditions, building understanding, and creating connections that last for generations,” she said.

The reception also highlighted the aviation history that first linked the Wenatchee Valley and Misawa. Pangborn Airport Director Trent Moyers spoke about the legacy of Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon’s 1931 trans-Pacific flight aboard the Miss Veedol, which departed from Misawa and landed in East Wenatchee after more than 40 hours in the air.

“That daring journey forever linked our communities across the Pacific Ocean,” Moyers said, noting the story is now featured throughout the terminal.

Delegation leader Takuya Sasaki, speaking through an interpreter, thanked the community for its hospitality and reflected on the long-standing exchange program.

“I am deeply grateful for your sincere kindness and warm hospitality,” he said. “I look forward to sharing a wonderful time with you all.”

After officials spoke, this year’s Apple Blossom Royalty welcomed the delegation as well, performing a song for the visiting students and chaperones, complete with choreography.

Following the ceremony, students met their host families, beginning a week filled with local events, cultural exchange and time spent experiencing life in the Wenatchee Valley.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media