Group holds memorial service for Hiroshima bombing

More than 140,000 Japanese people lost their lives when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

For those lives and countless others lost to war, Pax Christi Brownsville, a Catholic peace movement, will hold a service Sunday to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the bombing.

The event, “Pray for Peace,” will take place at Hope Park across from the Greyhound Bus Stop from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

There will be songs and prayers. Representatives from the Jewish, Protestant, Catholic and Muslim communities were invited.

“We want to recognize the terrible acts of war,” said Jean Krause, event organizer and part of Pax Christi Brownsville.

The story of an 11-year-old Japanese girl who died from leukemia prompted by the bombing will also be shared.

“The story of Sadako is famous. She was told that the Gods would smile upon her, if she made 1,000 paper cranes,” Krause said.

The girl died before she was able to reach her goal, but nonetheless was buried with 1,000 paper cranes.

“The paper crane is now seen as a symbol for peace all over the world,” Krause said.

Sadako holding a gold crane in her hands is now the memorial seen in Japan.

“We’ve asked kids around the community to make cranes for the service,” Krause said.

A thousand paper cranes will be displayed at the park.