The Vietnam War Memorial in Washing, D.C. is constructed by 2 pieces of large black granite.  It is erected to remember all the American soldiers who sacrificed their lives to the Vietnam War.  I personally think the memorial ought to be in Vietnam; nevertheless, that Memorial is not simply 2 pieces of large black stone, but they are stone filled with the names of thousands of soldiers who died; and the park where the memorial stands is a place where families and friends can go and feel a special connection to their loved ones.
在華盛頓特區的越南戰爭紀念碑，是以兩塊碩大的花崗岩築成。它的用意是為了紀念所有在越戰中為國捐軀的美國將士。我自己認為，這座紀念碑應該樹立在越南。不過無論如何，越戰紀念碑並不只是兩大塊黑色的花崗岩，在這上面銘刻有陣亡將士的姓名。而為國捐軀將士的家屬與摯友們在紀念碑之前，便能感受到他們與那些已然不在人世、摯愛親人們的紐帶依然存在。

The 2 pieces of granite are a concrete way to help the world remember a special war in which soldiers and civilians of both U.S. and Vietnam died.  Once again the memorial is a link to a piece of history. 
這兩塊花崗岩，是以一種具體實存的方式，來幫助世人追憶那些分屬美越兩國、在戰爭中喪生的軍人和平民。這座紀念碑，也同樣是我們追憶歷史與和平的重要紐帶。

Not all memorials and plagues are related to wars; one such plague is the one on the outside wall of a house next to the Spanish Steps in Rome.  This plague says that the famous English poet John Keats lived and died in this house in 1821.  And the purpose of the plague is the same; it helps link us to the past; making the Spanish Steps, the house, and our knowledge of John Keats more alive. 
並非所有的紀念碑都和戰爭與死亡相關。在羅馬的西班牙廣場就是一個例子。在西班牙廣場旁，一座小紀念碑靜靜地躺在那裡，告訴大家英國著名詩人約翰‧濟慈曾在這棟房子生活、也在這棟房子走完他的生命旅程。而這座紀念碑，則是將西班牙廣場的過去、濟慈旅居之處，與濟慈的文學成就活生生地聯結到我們的腦海之中。

Why is it important to know that we are linked to something in the past, or happened in the past?
為什麼我們需要尋找、知曉我們與過去之間的紐帶？為什麼我們需要知道過去所發生的歷史？

On the main level of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Taichung, there is an exhibit using painting and photographs to show the history of Taiwan   At the exhibit, there is an explanation saying that these paintings and photographs give life to history, and history helps accentuate our present life.  
在台中當代美術館的主階梯，有一幅結合繪畫與攝影的作品，展示了台灣的歷史。透過這些藝術，歷史不再虛無飄渺，而是栩栩如生的記憶衝擊。

My interpretation of that saying is that the past gives meaning to the present, and we are who we are because of the past; but more importantly what happened in the past guides us living in the present, and into the future.
以我個人的詮釋，我認為過去賦予了現在意義，我們是時間的兒女，過去的一切形塑了今日的我們。而更重要的是，當我們回首過去，我們所獲得的經驗與教訓，將會引導我們渡向眼前與未來。

The 2 pieces of black granite of the Vietnam War Memorial are not just 2 pieces of stone.  Families and friends go and touch the names of their loved ones etched on the stone, and with that touch, it is as if they could touch their loved ones, bringing them closer together.  The 2 pieces of stone preserve and speak to the present the tragedies of a past war; making it more difficult for the world to forget the sacrifices made, and the pain and sorrow still being felt on both sides of the world by the families and loves one of the soldiers   In the remembering, leaders and citizens have a better chance of not repeating the same mistakes, and coming up with more humane and peaceful solutions in dealing with conflicts between nations.
因此，越戰紀念碑，並不只是兩塊豎立在華盛頓特區的黑色花崗岩。當陣亡將士的家屬與摯友們來到紀念碑前，用他們的手觸摸著紀念碑上的名字時，他們可以感受到在天國的親人，似乎在那一瞬間不再那麼遙遠。當然，逝者已矣，在這場戰爭中消逝的生命、付出的代價、人類的苦難，都已然成形，越戰紀念碑似乎也就再次提醒世人切莫忘懷那些我們所失去的一切。或許，當世界領袖們站在這座紀念碑前的時候，我們似乎也有更多的機會提醒全人類不要重蹈覆轍，我們應該運用智慧與人道精神，避免戰爭與衝突，讓國與國之間有更多共存、共生的可能性。

The memorial which we dedicate this morning serves the same purpose.  It connects us to a piece of history in a more concrete way; it brings to the present a past war in which thousands of lives were sacrificed; and prisoners of war being held and tortured in Japanese camps in different parts of Taiwan.  The memorial also guides us in creating a future that sees peace as a priority; and reminds us to remind world leaders that it matters.
今天，我們之所以在斗六豎立這座紀念碑，也是基於相同的原因與使命。這座紀念碑讓一段喪生千萬的戰爭期間、幾乎塵封的歷史，能夠以具體的方式重回我們的記憶，讓我們能夠紀念那些在台灣遭受日軍關押、凌虐的盟軍戰俘。這座紀念碑，也同樣引領我們邁向崇高的和平使命，也提醒世人與政治家和平的可貴。

Some governments or nations want the world to forget the ugly part of history, especially if they contributed to that piece of history.  I would say don’t forget it; learn from it so that we can be better people and nations, so we can be creative when resolving disagreements and conflicts, so we can do justice and honor to those who sacrificed their lives.
世上少數的政府與國家，尤其是那些曾經牽涉到違反人類罪行的政治實體，經常希望世人能夠盡速忘卻那段不堪回首的回憶。但我認為，遺忘絕對不是我們的選擇，我們應當從歷史中記許教訓，藉由向那些犧牲的人們致敬，我們能夠學著積極進取、成為更好的人、更好的國家。更讓我們能夠在歧見與衝突發生時，以智慧解決爭端，以公義行事。

Students in Gou-Ba Elementary School are very fortunate.  With this memorial, this school becomes more special and significant in the history of Taiwan, and in the history of the world.  With this memorial, students are connected to a piece of important history and to the POWs who once were here.  History is not just something dead they learn from a book; it is real.
我想，溝壩國小的孩子們，或許比台灣其他小學的孩子們還要幸運。因為這座紀念碑，溝壩國小在台灣與世界的歷史上，都將佔有極富意義的一席之地。透過這座紀念碑，孩子們將和歷史與過去曾在這裡渡過艱難歲月的戰俘們產生連結。歷史不再只是書本上的隻字片語，而會是真正存在於生活中的一部份。

Use this memorial as a teaching tool; help them understand courage and sacrifice for one’s country and for the world.  Help them understand the violence and tragedies that wars can bring.  With this memorial, with a link to the past, teach them to be peace loving citizens, and be respectful of others in their interactions with their friends, teachers, and neighbors.   Let this memorial be a meaningful stepping stone into our future and their future.
我呼籲我們的老師和家長，善用這座紀念碑，它可以成為最好的教學教材，讓孩子們知道戰俘們為了自己的國家，曾經以多麼驚人的勇氣去面對、承擔苦難；讓孩子們知道，戰爭會替人類帶來多麼可怕的暴力與悲劇；善用這座紀念碑，讓孩子們成為愛好和平的世界公民，讓他們在與親人、朋友、老師、鄰居們的相處中，成為一個懂得尊重他人的好孩子。我們衷心期盼，這塊石頭，能夠成為我們與孩子們未來最富有意義的一座紀念碑。