Internees created a garden behind the Honor Roll sign as a cultural expression of inner strength and patriotism that contrasted with the entrance gate's symbolism of confinement and injustice. The ornamental garden, envisioned by Fujitaro Kubota, was built in June 1944 after the Honor Roll sign was erected. Using traditional Japanese gardening techniques combined with Japanese and American symbolism, Kubota's crew built a V-shaped garden, perhaps symbolizing victory in war, with boulders, earthen mounds, stepping stones, and planted trees, shrubs, and flowers throughout. The rocks were quarried in the desert miles from the camp, and the plants were grown in the camp's nursery or donated by local communities. Archeologists excavated and mapped the garden site in 2002.