Peace...
 

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/WORLD/as...a.doves.ap.jpg

The Sadako Story

The paper crane has become an international symbol of peace in recent years as a result of it's connection to the story of a young Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki born in 1943. Sadako was two years old when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945.

As she grew up, Sadako was a strong, courageous and athletic girl. In 1955, at age 11, while practicing for a big race, she became dizzy and fell to the ground. Sadako was diagnosed with Leukemia, "the atom bomb" disease.

Sadako's best friend told her of an old Japanese legend which said that anyone who folds a thousand paper cranes would be granted a wish. Sadako hoped that the gods would grant her a wish to get well so that she could run again. She started to work on the paper cranes and completed over 1000 before dying on October 25, 1955 at the age of twelve.

Inspired by her courage and strength, Sadako's friends and classmates put together a book of her letters and published it. They began to dream of building a monument to Sadako and all of the children killed by the atom bomb. Young people all over Japan helped collect money for the project.

In 1958, a statue of Sadako holding a golden crane was unveiled in Hiroshima Peace Park. The children also made a wish which is inscribed at the bottom of the statue and reads:

"This is our cry, This is our prayer, Peace in the world".

Today, people all over the world fold paper cranes and send them to Sadako's monument in Hiroshima.

ADG Webmaster

i remember folding paper cranes when I was in school to send to Hiroshima :)

i had never experience making paper cranes to send to hiroshima...how i wish i could send one

I have visited Peace Park in Hiroshima several times (it's not far from the city where my wife was born).

It is beautiful and heart-wrenching at the same time.

At the monument to Sadako you can view countless strands of 1,000 paper cranes sent from all over the world, along with many poignant messages.

Perhaps there is hope for peace yet...

http://www.cmis.csiro.au/Fiona.Evans...oshima2_sm.jpg

ADG Webmaster

I have not been to Japan but if I have the chance, Peace park would have to be one of my destination.

I highly recommend it.

Here is the web site for the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

ADG Webmaster

same here, Japan is an interesting country from what I hear

i dont believe this story is true....I read the book way back in the day.....1000 paper cranes....and things have started from it....but it was a story...


I may be wrong....but i remmeber reading a novel with this story over 10 years ago, i dont believe it was based on a true story....but very nice indeed

Whether true or not, that won't change the fact that in War innocent civilians will always be the ones that are greatly affected.

i would love to also see peace park in person.. it would have been an eerie feeling.