Kids and Seniors Dance Up a Storm

WILDWOOD CREST – There were dancing grannies, dancing pop-pops, a few dancing aunts and uncles, special friends and a whole slew of dancing kids when Crest Memorial School hosted its 16th annual Junior/Senior Social.
The March 15 event gave local middle-school aged students a chance to enjoy the special seniors in their lives by dressing up to enjoy an afternoon on the town.
“I was at the casino at a luncheon meeting today and it wasn’t this good,” said Robert Patterson, as he ate dinner with his sixth grade niece, Avery Tomlinson.
The buffet dinner was served by members of the school staff as well as volunteers. With over 170 mouths to feed, the waitstaff worked fast and furiously.
“It’s our way to show our appreciation to the community,” said teacher Jeannine Yecco, as she worked on the serving line.
The theme of this year’s event was “One Thousand Cranes.”
Art teacher Anna Swift shared how the entire student body worked from the first day of school up until hours before the event to complete folding origami cranes.
“It’s a Japanese legend if you fold 1,000 cranes you are granted a wish,” said Swift.
The legend is based on the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young Japanese girl who died from leukemia in 1955. Sasaki was a two-year old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
Given a year to live, she tried to fold 1,000 cranes so the gods would grant her wish to be cured from her disease. She died before completing the task, having folded 644 cranes. Friends and family finished folding the remaining cranes, which were buried with her.
“There are about 2,000 cranes here,” said Swift. Guests walked into the party venue through a curtain made of origami cranes. Crane mobiles hung from the ceiling, and each guest was presented with a crane party favor.
“The cranes are being donated to CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia),” said Swift. “To let them know our wish is for them to be cured.”