Emily Hinton from Aurora snaps a photo of her son, Ben, in front of a paper crane memorial as part of Aurora’s First Fridays event. The Perch in downtown Aurora was host to a 1,000 Paper Cranes Memorial to honor all the people lost in the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 1,000 origami cranes were on display in the windows of The Perch, 31 W. Downer Place. The practice of creating a thousand paper cranes comes from a Japanese legend and they are often given to a person who is seriously ill, to wish for their recovery. Cranes are a symbol of peace, and are often seen at war memorials. The Perch in Aurora offers an environment to experience rest, renewal, reflection, and rejuvenation. Events include classes, retreats, spiritual development sessions, yoga, and workshops. Jason Crane/The Voice
