The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation will hold its 25th Annual Sadako Peace Day, Tuesday, Aug. 6, to remember the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and all innocent victims of war.
The free event will be 6-7 p.m. at Westmont College, Magnolia Lawn, 955 La Paz Road, Santa Barbara.
This year, the foundation will honor Dr. David Krieger, its long-serving president, by reading from his body of original poetry. For many years, his poems have connected with people from all over the world on issues of peace, war and nuclear dangers.
After leading the foundation for nearly 40 years, Krieger will be retiring at year’s end.
The event will include live music, reflection and a peace crane-folding workshop by the Peace Crane Project.
Sadako Peace Day is a tribute to the life of Sadako Sasaki, a child from Hiroshima who was 2 years old at the time of the atomic bombing. Ten years later, she died from radiation-induced leukemia as a result of that bombing.
Japanese legend holds that one’s wish will be granted upon folding 1,000 paper cranes. While in the hospital, Sadako folded more than 1,000 paper cranes, hoping it might help her get well. Sadly, Sadako died without ever returning to health.
Students in Japan were so moved by Sadako’s story, they began folding paper cranes, too. The paper crane has become an international symbol of peace, and a statue of Sadako now stands in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
For more information, visit wagingpeace.org/2019-sadako-peace-day/.
— Sandy Jones for Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.