Established in 2003, the Peace Crane Memorial emerged as a response to the news embargo that prevented coverage of returning coffins from Iraq. What began as an act of remembrance soon became a community project, with Friends and school children folding origami peace cranes and placing one above the name of each fallen soldier. The names are arranged in chronological order by date of death, ensuring that every service member is honored individually.
Over the years, the memorial has been displayed throughout the local region, including annual appearances at the Las Cruces Día de los Muertos Festival, The Whole Enchilada Festival, and Veteran’s Memorial Park. In 2011, the project expanded to include service members who lost their lives in Afghanistan, reflecting the ongoing impact of war.
A significant milestone came in 2013 when the memorial was transported to Washington, D.C., and displayed on the National Mall for its 10th anniversary. It remains the only known Afghanistan-Iraq memorial that presents the name, photograph, and brief biography of each fallen service member, accompanied by a folded origami crane—a universal symbol of peace.