September 11th Peace and Unity
Project
Franklin Marshall and friends at Aptos Academy who created the
Peace and Unity mural on display in the United Nations. Enlarged
Photo
In response to the tragic events in New York City on September 11, 2001,
the Peace and Unity Project was formed. Over 200 peace-themed murals
painted by children from all over the United States were sent to the
United Nations for display. Franklin Marshall, executive director of
Children’s Learning Museum, joined with the children and staff
of Aptos Academy to create one of only four murals produced in northern
California.
Along with the mural, Children’s Learning Museum sponsored a greeting
card distribution to children and families in the wake of the New York
City disaster. School children from over thirty local schools drew pictures,
wrote messages, and decorated over 13,000 greeting cards which were
generously donated by local businesses. Mr. Marshall and Festa the Cat
traveled to New York and personally distributed the cards to children
and families at the Child and Family Counseling Program of South Nassau
Communities Hospital. The hospital dedicated a room for the cards, naming
it "The Santa Cruz Room".
While in New York, Mr. Marshall met with Dr. Larry M. Hawk, the President
of the ASPCA. The first Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
in America, New York has led the way in educating the public about spay
and neutering of pets. Children’s Learning Museum hopes to work
together with the ASPCA to create a national center for spay and neutering
in the future. A portion of all museum greeting card sales supports
the spay and neutering of adopted cats at local shelters.
SEE PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT
