While traveling I have come across some very poignant sights and traditions. One of these was of the statue of Sadako Sasaki in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. It is a statue of a child named Sadako holding a golden crane. The plaque at the foot of it reads “ This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace on Earth.”

Sadako was a mile away from Ground Zero at the time of the bombing of Hiroshima.  She was diagnosed with leukemia, or as her mother referred to it “the atom bomb disease.” She was visited in the hospital by her best friend who brought her a golden piece of paper folded into an origami crane. She did this in reference to a Japanese legend that states that anyone who folds a thousand of these origami creatures will be granted a wish.

Different sources say different things about whether Sadako reached her goal of one thousand prior to passing away. She has become a strong symbol of all that comes from nuclear war. She is an inspiration to those who hope for lasting world peace, and a visit to see her statue can be quite emotional.