Elgin church to display origami peace cranes on front lawn

Members of the Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin have folded several hundred origami cranes and mounted them in a display on the front lawn of the church along with a banner that reads "Peace is Patriotic."

The origami crane as a symbol of peace goes back to Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who was a victim of the bombing on Hiroshima. She was 2 years old and severely irradiated. Still, she lived another 10 years. She is remembered because she folded more than 1,000 cranes for peace before her death.

This display is the congregation's way of celebrating the Fourth of July, lifting up their conviction that it is important for all of us as Americans to remember that working for peace is a way of honoring our country.

The display is going up on Saturday, July 3, and will remain up for a week.

The Elgin area community is invited to drive by and ponder the idea that peace is patriotic.

The church is at 783 West Highland Avenue, Elgin.

For information, call (847) 741-5124, or visit www.hacob.org or www.facebook.com/HighlandAvenueCOB/.