Sisters City Program History

In August of 1977, Edward Holmes of Palmer, Alaska, made contact with Mutsuhiro Ishiguro of Saroma, Japan via ham radio. Frequent ham radio communications eventually led Ed to visit Saroma in April of 1980. In May of 1980, it was decided that Palmer and Saroma would become Sister Cities. In October of the same year, a delegation from Saroma visited Palmer and signed the Sister City Charter.

Over the years, there have been many visits between the cities. These have included short and long-term student exchanges, work-study exchanges, language teacher exchanges, official delegations, and simply friends visiting friends. The friendship that Ed and Mutsuhiro helped start back in 1980 continues today. It is a friendship that has touched and even transformed many lives. Their legacy will live on as future generations experience the friendship of our two cities.