OntheWilderSide

August 6th, 1945 is the day that the United States of America dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. You can find more about the history of Hiroshima Day and Hiroshima’s commemoration of the event: here. If you would like to join in honoring and remembering the victims, and hoping for a future of peace and no nuclear weapons, there are some places to gather today in Long Island and/or New York City.

In Nassau County, Long Island:

Annual Hiroshima Event at UU Congregation Shelter Rock, 48 Shelter Rock Rd. Manhasset. 7 p.m on August 6, 2009. Music, Peace Pole Ceremony, William Hartung of the Arms and Security Initiative, New America Foundation. Sponsored by Great Neck SANE, Peace Action and Long Island Alliance.

In Suffolk County, Long Island:

South Country Peace Group will hold its  27th annual World Peace Vigil on Hiroshima Day and Community Dedication to Peace  Thursday, August 6th in Bellport Village – meet adjacent to Woodlawn Cemetery on Station Rd. at  7p.m.  – And proceed to Greta South Bay for community dedication to peace. You may wish to wear white and/or bring a candle.  This event is an annual SCPG organized event that tries to raise awareness of the threats of nuclear weapons. August 6, 2009. [This event was announced on the radio today by Bill McNulty on, WUSB 90.1FM, "Lunch with Bill".]

At Central Park, NYC:

Morning event: Paper Crane Peace Festival. Sponsored by Peace Action New York State and NYC United for Peace and Justice. 10 AM – 11:30 AM, Harlem Meer in Central Park (110th Street near Lenox Ave)

Near Union Square, NYC:

Theatrical Reading of Chiori Miyagawa’s I Have Been to Hiroshima Mon Amour followed by Talkback Q & A with the playwright and director, Jean Wagner. 7:00 PM, August 6th. Meeting House at Friends Seminary, 15 Rutherford Place between 15th and 16th Streets east of 3rd Ave.  Union Square subways are within walking distance (4,5,6,N, R,Q).

The origami paper crane became a symbol of world peace because of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who lived in Hiroshima, Japan at the time of the atomic bombing.  She began folding paper cranes after she developed leukemia from the radiation in hope of making a thousand, which according to a Japanese legend would have allowed her to be granted one wish – to live. However, she only managed to fold 644 cranes before she became too weak to fold one more, and died shortly after. Since then cranes and lanterns are floated each year to remember those who died from the bombs and to call for peace and disarmament.

Filed under: Anti-War, events, international politics, long island, Long Island Politics, News, nonviolence, Peace, progressive politics, US Politics, war Tagged: | anti-nuclear, Chiori Miyawagawa, Great Neck Sane, Hiroshima, Jean Wagner, long island, Nagasaki, Nassau County, paper crane, Sadako Sasaki, Suffolk County