Community News

LIGHTNING PHOTOS: Girl Scouts make message of peace at City Hall

Girls Scouts and leaders make origami cranes and fasten them to strings as part of an exhibit symbolizing peace at City Hall.

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 21, 2021

Visitors to City Hall will be met with a message of peace in the form of 1,000 paper cranes.

Henderson County Girl Scouts came together to complete the paper crane project which is on display in the City Hall lobby in time for the International Day of Peace on September 21.

“Every year, on Feb. 22, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts celebrates World Thinking Day, where troops all over the world learn about other countries and get together to celebrate international friendship,” said Eleanor Trollinger, the leader for Troop 1901, and the co-Service Unit Specialist for Henderson County Girl Scouts. “We were unable to host an in-person event this year due to Covid, so instead my troop organized the paper crane project.”

Around 50 girls from at least eight local troops were involved in folding cranes from January to May. On Saturday Trollinger, the city Human Resources Coordinator Lu Ann Welter, local girl scouts and other volunteers installed the cranes throughout the City Hall lobby.

In Japanese culture the crane represents peace, and the folding of 1,000 paper cranes is known as a “senbazuru,” Trollinger said. The completion of folding 1000 cranes ensures good fortune and the granting of a wish.

“We chose to wish for unity and peace, in accordance with this year’s World Thinking Day theme of peacebuilding,” said Trollinger. “Our hope is that by installing the cranes in a public place, that message will be spread throughout our community.”

The paper cranes will be on display in the City Hall lobby at 160 Sixth Avenue East throughout October.