AN IMPORTANT LESSON IS UNFOLDING AT THIS WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON CHURCH. A LESSON ABOUT PEACE, AND EVERYONE’S ROLE IN ACHIEVING IT.

MEMBERS ARE LEARNING TO FOLD PEACE CRANES.

Gloria Piper-Roberson: “I fold it one way and Hannah folds it another way, but both ways will bring us to peace. Peace is not always gotten to by the same road nor is it easy.”

THEY’RE ENCOURAGED TO THINK ABOUT HOW FOLDING THE CRANES COMPARES TO WORKING TOWARD PEACE.

Gloria Piper-Roberson: “It is frustrating. Sometimes we have to start all over, but we need to keep trying.”

THIS BEGAN WITH ANOTHER WAR.

AS THE STORY GOES, A LITTLE GIRL IN HIROSHIMA - WHO WAS DYING OF RADIATION DISEASE FROM THE ATOMIC BOMB - WANTED TO GET WELL. A JAPANESE LEGEND SAID IF YOU FOLDED ONE THOUSAND CRANES, YOU’D GET YOUR WISH. SHE DIDN’T MAKE IT TO A THOUSAND. HER CLASSMATES FINISHED THE JOB …

Gloria Piper-Roberson: “And that is where you can put your prayer, inside when you blow. Your prayer for peace.”

AND THE SYMBOLISM OF THE “PEACE CRANE” LIVES ON.

Lynn Brown: “I think everybody is looking for something, any kind of expression of hope … “

EACH IS A SMALL SYMBOL OF AN INDIVIDUAL EFFORT. TOGETHER, THEY ADD UP. IN WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON, I’M KIM RIEMLAND.