Our Christmas Tree, that was on display at the Tree Festival in St. Eustachius Church until 8th December was runner-up with the voters. Thank you to everyone who voted for our tree which was decorated with cranes, an Eastern symbol of long life and good fortune.Barbara Schofield, one of the leaders of the craft group wanted West Dartmoor’s tree to be a symbol, of our overwhelming desire to end the appalling violence and bloodshed in the world and a tribute to Sadako Sasaki and from the votes cast, this message struck a chord with many who attended the event.
Sadako Sasaki was a twelve year old Japenese girl orphaned by the Hiroshima bomb. She also suffered ratiation sickness.
Using the pieces of paper used to wrap her medecine, Sadako hoped that if she made 1000 cranes her prayers for her recovery would be answered. When she realised she was not going to survive, she changed her prayers to ones for World Peace, thereby creating an international symbol.
Sadako had reached 644 cranes when she died. After her story became known other children sent their work to Hiroshima and in 1958 a statue was erected in Hiroshima Park.
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