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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
She’s known around Walpole for her kindness and generosity. She’s recognized by students as “The Peace Lady.” She’s an inspiration to people of all ages. She is Ora McGuire, a 93-year-old woman who has made it her mission for the last ten years to spread peace in the form of origami cranes.
In honor of International Day of Peace on September 21, Ora set up a table at the Walpole Senior Center inside of Town Hall to tell the story of the origami cranes. It all started ten years ago at a program called The Girls Center, during which Ora said: “I can’t do it, but I’ve always been interested in origami.”
For ten years, Ora McGuire has been folding origami cranes to spread peace, and continues her mission for International Day of Peace.
Through the program, she learned how to make origami figures.
Ora was inspired by the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who was a victim of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima in 1945. While spending time in the hospital for leukemia treatments, Sadako learned how to fold origami cranes and aimed to make over one thousand cranes, but did not achieve her goal before passing away at 12-years old. A statue of Sadako in Seattle, Washington, stands with a plaque that reads: “This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.”
“I decided that would be my mission,” said Ora. “Instead of making cranes for hospitals, I make them for peace.” Ora estimated that she has made over one thousand cranes for peace, and hundreds for good health and longevity. Leaving cranes everywhere she goes, Ora said she hopes the people who find them will also be inspired to spread peace. “It’s something we can all do,” she added.
Ora McGuire celebrates International Day of Peace by folding origami cranes to represent peace, good health, and longevity.
At the Senior Center, Ora made several paper cranes for her fellow seniors to take in part of her mission. By her desk, she hung a string of several more, which added pops of color and culture to the space.
“All you have to do is inspire me, and I’ll fly,” said Ora.
But anyone who meets her can agree that Ora is the true source of inspiration - and one of many reasons to spread the message of peace.
