A soaring crane fabricated from World Trade Center steel is being used in a memorial to the 16,000 people lost in the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
The sculpture — called “the first monument of significance from the international community, to Japan’s disaster stricken northeast region” — was designed and crafted by New Jersey based sign manufacturer, Eastern Sign Industries, at the request of Lee Ielpi, co-founder of the 9/11 Tribute Center.
Eastern was part of a local team of experts who donated their time and talent to build the sculpture of the origami crane and enable the 9/11 Tribute Center and 9/11 Families Association to bring the meaningful gift to Japan.
In an international outreach project, a group of 9/11 volunteers, family members, recovery workers, and survivors undertook a 10 day trip to the northeast of Japan in October 2012 to deliver the crane sculpture to the City of Koriyama.
Koriyama is 34 miles west of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which suffered a meltdown in the aftermath of the magnitude nine earthquake that happened on March 3, 2011.
The soaring crane was installed on a custom-made granite base and is now the focus of a 3/11 memorial being built in Kaisezan Park in Koriyama City. The idea of the crane monument is based on the legend of the 1,000 paper cranes as a wish for peace.
The plaque at the memorial reads, “The September 11th Families’ Association and the 9/11 Tribute Center extend compassion to the people who lived through the tragic earthquake of March 11, 2011. We wish you strength and courage as you move forward to rebuild your lives and communities.”
Eastern Sign Industries was founded in 2000 by Ali Khalfan. The company focuses on the design and fabrication of architectural signage and metal work in the tri-state area. “We are honored to be a part of such a great project that will ensure future generations can enjoy the memorial, yet still understand the historical significance,” said Khalfan.
