The STARTRIBUNE printed a photo of a woman gently placing her origami crane on the weeping willow tree by the Peace Bridge at the Ceremony of Cranes Monday morning. I think it is an iconic photo of this year's commemoration activities to date. Our Minnesota community is dealing with all the emotions and reality of the I-35W bridge collapse, and the need is for kindness and quiet space in our hearts. Our events at the Peace Garden helped meet that need, I think.
As the Women in Black processed along the Pathway to Peace, they were accompanied by the gentle rat-a-tat-tat of the drum. Moments of silence after each reflection gave time for the words to sink into our consciousness. Thank you, Marilyn and the WIB, for leading us into the garden.
There was a small group gathered by the Spirit of Peace sculpture as Marcia Sanoden began to sing songs of peace. I hold the refrain of "One crane, two cranes, three cranes, four, We can put an end to war..." in my heart. Larry Johnson and Elaine Wynne once more told the SADAKO story with great expression. And what a wonderful photo I have of Larry playing with his grandchild Lincoln after the story was told. Larry explained how his son Lincoln, at age seven, suggested that folding the origami crane would enhance the story. I am sure "mini Lincoln" will grow to be a peacemaker as well.
Thank you to Camy and the Arden Consort for welcoming people into the garden for the tea ceremony. Father Jim Soki Herrman and Father Lyle Ehmke, with help from Patricia Katagiri of the Yukimakai tea study group, performed this commemorative event. As Patricia said, outdoor tea ceremonies would often use the folding tables rather than tatami mats. Being on the tables gave the audience better views, I think. Thank you to Katie Fournier for organizing these two activities.
Monday morning dawned cloudy and close, but a bit of a breeze came up as we began our centerpiece event, the Ceremony of the Cranes. Kathleen Olsen and Bret Hesla played both familiar and new songs of peace. The "Remember" song which Bret wrote was so appropriate to the day. City Councilwoman Betsy Hodges and Park Commissioner Bob Fine welcomed the seventy-five or so people who came, then Kathleen, Bret, and Joseph Olsen on his violin, played DONA NOBIS PACEM--give us peace. This is becoming a tradition at the ceremony. Thank you, Kathleen, for your faithfulness. US Representative Keith Ellison was our keynote speaker, thanks to the persistence of Margaret Esslinger. His message of the importance of dialogue, not arrogance, gave us language to use with our legislators and other government leaders to work toward peaceful resolution of conflicts.
After the moment of silence at 8:15 and the hanging of the cranes, Leo Hansen's wonderful shakuhachi flute led us to the Spirit of Peace sculpture where Maria Genne's Kairos Intergenerational Dance Theatre performed a dance of reflection and hope as Leo continued to play. What an awesome closure to the morning ceremonies!
Marj Wunder and others kept vigil in the garden throughout the day, folding cranes under the willow by the bridge and greeting a host of international visitors. A group of young people from Germany was biking with a Lutheran church group. Some seventy-five students from an international program at the University of Minnesota came into the garden. The delegation from Lithuania spontaneously sang a haunting song about cranes. What an inspiring day!
Rabbi Glaser and the Social Action Figures did rock the night away. Two highlights for me, though, were the ballad which Sara Glaser had written and "Last Night I had the Strangest Dream," another slow tune. I was so pleased that Fumiko Yamaguchi, vice president of the Nagasaki St. Paul Sister City Committee, was able to make an appearance at the Concert and welcome people to the August 9 event in St. Paul.
Chris Rossow, president, and other members of the St. Paul Nagasaki Sister City Committee, have been instrumental in arranging the upcoming event August 9 at Como Park where we will remember the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. The Junshin singers will sing two songs written expressly in response to the August 9 bombing; Chris will read ON THAT SUMMER DAY, and people will walk the Global Harmony Labyrinth designed by local artist Cyndy McKeen and dedicated to Karen Kunzman, longtime supporter of the St. Paul Nagasaki Sister City relationship. Kyodo News is sending a reporter to cover that event.
Special thanks to Lisa Ledwidge for designing our website, and Lisa Boyd and Karen Redleaf for maintaining it; to Michael Matheny and Holly Coughlin at Triangle Creative Press for the wonderful flyer design; to St. Joan of Arc for the use of their meeting space; to Mary Lerman, faithful MPRB supporter of the Peace Garden; to our speakers, musicians, and dancers; to Jan Hively for designing the program and printing the action postcards; to Marilyn Cuneo and the Women in Black; and to all the members of the Hiroshima Nagasaki Commemoration Committee and St. Paul Nagasaki Sister City Committee, for making this year's events so memorable. --JoAnn Blatchley