In June, Margaret McNew discovered Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, a book that had been read by her mother, Suzette, and older sister, Audrey. The book tells the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl born in 1943.
Sadako was diagnosed with a form of Leukemia related to radiation from the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima when she was two. She was told of the Japanese legend that anyone folding a thousand paper cranes is granted a wish. Hoping for recovery, she completed 644 before she succumbed to the disease and died at age twelve, writes Eric Gipson of Sciport.
Sadako’s courage became inspirational throughout Japan and abroad, with Sadako statues raised in Hiroshima and Seattle. Her story made the paper crane an international symbol of peace.
With instructions provided in the book, and with help from her mom, Margaret soon became adept at making her own origami cranes. This turned into a home project to work on cranes to send to the United Nations for the September 21 Day of Peace. Her school, A.C. Steere Elementary has since become involved, as has sister Audrey’s school, Caddo Middle Magnet.
Enthusiasm spread when the McNews contacted Sci-Port Discovery Center for a potential partnership in the project. Crane-making workshop dates were quickly established.
Sci-Port’s new President & CEO, Ann Fumarolo, got her former science center, Science North in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to join the effort.
Sci-Port welcomes origami cranes from any individual or group; crane making instructions can be found at www.sciport.org.
Cranes can be dropped off or sent to Sci-Port Port Discovery Center, 820 Clyde Fant Parkway, Shreveport, LA 71101, phone (318) 424-3466, toll-free (877) 724-7678. International Day of Peace information is available at www.internationaldayofpeace.org.
Sci-Port Cranes for Peace workshops:
Saturday, September 8, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Sunday, September 9, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday, September 15, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
1 comment:
Are these going to be recycled for peace, as well? I appreciate the sentiment here, but seriously - shouldn't we be leaving a smaller footprint for peace, instead of a larger one?
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