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Camp Hill RTU Inmates Fold Cranes for Hope

Tags: Camp Hill
January 09, 2020 12:00 AM
By: DOC Staff

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Throughout history, birds have been viewed as animals of special value and have been laden with meanings often derived from legends and stories that have survived over many generations. In Japanese, Chinese and Korean tradition, cranes stand for good fortune and longevity because of their fabled life span of a thousand years. The powerful wings of the crane were believed to be able to convey souls up to paradise and to carry people to higher levels of spiritual enlightenment. Over time, the crane has also evolved as a favorite subject of the tradition of paper folding: origami. It is said that a thousand folded cranes, one for each year of its life, makes a wish come true.

Today this practice of folding 1,000 cranes represents a form of healing and hope during challenging times. Cranes are often given to someone suffering from illness, as a prayer for their recovery, as a wish for happiness, and as an expression of sympathy and peace.

In following the tradition of the legend of the crane, the SCI Camp Hill RTU is folding cranes to fulfill wishes for peace, hope and recovery for those who have been affected by suicide or those who are presently living with mental illness.


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