06/08/2016
Three years ago today, with Students Rebuild, this community laid over one million bones on the National Mall. Bones that were made by people from all over the world in solidarity and concern for those in South Sudan, Congo, Syria, Burma and Somalia. To this day we continue to be humbled by the extraordinary effort so many people made to realize this vision. A vision that was always meant to remind us that we belong to each other and to ask the question if in belonging do we find or feel responsibility.
Three years later, these atrocities are still ongoing and millions of people continue to lose their lives and livelihoods. It is possible these questions have never been more important. For if we understand that we belong to each other wouldn’t that mean we would take care of each other? Wouldn’t that mean we would open our doors to those in need rather than close them?
When we look at this picture by Teru Kuwayama of the bones on the mall we don’t see bones anymore, we only see relationships. The relationships that people made to these conflicts and those affected by them, the relationships that people made to each other, in community, around clay and plaster to craft a symbol as beautiful and devastating as any, because it is a symbol of any and all of us.
Thank you to all of you who made a bone, who laid one down, who engaged in these relationships. We continue to be honored and humbled by all that transpired over the five years of this project.
Thank you especially to Students Rebuild whose tireless commitment made it possible. And for the extraordinary team of staff, state coordinators, volunteers and supporters, and film-makers, Sarah Skibitzke-Donnell, Bryan Donnell, who gave us their whole hearts. We love you.
