Paper Cranes for Peace

“I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world.” – Sadako Sasaki

Today is a day we remember history and celebrate peace.

On August 6th in 1945 the United States bombed the city of Hiroshima, Japan with the first atomic waepon ever deployed in warfare.  On that day Sadako Sasaki was two years old. Ten years later she died of radiation induced leukemia. In the hospital, Sadako began to fold origami cranes, moved by the Japanese legend that said one’s wish will come true if one folds 1,000 cranes. While Sadako did not acheive 1,000 folded cranes inher life, because of her story and inspiration, paper cranes have become a global symbol of peace, and a statue of Sadako now stands in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Japan and in Seattle Peace Park in the United States.

In 1996, August 6th was declared Sadako Peace Day.  We celebrate this day by gathering together and praying for peace in times of war and for all people, especially children.  Today I have put peace on the wings of this post and hope that this message will fly all over the world.