Saturday, 2/3/07, the Flushing Greens sponsored an event at the Flushing Mall, "Fold a Crane for Peace and Lt. Watada."

More photos

Last Saturday, 2/3/07, the Flushing Greens sponsored an event at the Flushing Mall, "Fold a Crane for Peace and Lt. Watada."

Legend has it that if you fold 1000 paper cranes that you will get your wish. We folded cranes with the wish for Peace - an end to the Iraq war and the release of Lt. Ehren Watada. the first officer to refuse to be deployed in Iraq. We provided paper for cranes to be made and had teachers for those who didnt know how to make paper "peace" cranes. We also had 200 short bilingual Chinese/English flyers about Lt. Watada that we distributed. All of the Chinese newspapers covered the event.

It was heartwarming to see how many people do want world peace. I'm greatful to the Flushing community fo their support and participation; and to others who traveled from as far as the Bronx and Long Island to show support for the day.

People often dismiss New Yorkers as cold and uncaring, but all of these people paused for a few minutes or a few hours to help us reach our goal of 1000 cranes. Even the smallest child folding cranes knowing they could not keep them, that they were for a special purpose.

Our goal was to have 1000 cranes folded by 7pm that night, but we only had 665. People finished with their shopping lingered; even business owners and security guards worked with us until closing time at nine. We were still about 155 short.

After closing, a few volunteers walked to our apartment, where we reached our goal of 1000 cranes in the next hour.

I cannot fold cranes unless someone is walking me through it; even though I have been shown hundreds of times over the years. I offer these photos I've taken of the event as my way of promoting peace and unity; and as a wish for Lt. Watada's freedom.
 
DayStar Chou