The American Falls will be lit green from both sides of the border tonight in an international event to promote organ and tissue donation. The first time the falls were lit green for this event was in 2008. This is the second such lighting.
Falls goes green to honor the gift of life
NIAGARA FALLS — The American Falls is going green tonight.
The famous waterfall will be lit by green spotlights on both sides of the border as part of an international effort to remind people about the importance of organ and tissue donation.
There also will be a line of people forming a symbolic green ribbon across the Rainbow Bridge at 10 p.m. They will be led by a Canadian family who lost their son 16 years ago.
Stuart Herriott was 2 years old when he died from head injuries after an accident. His family consented to organ donations.
“Our little Stu-Buddy at 25 months of age, gave life to four recipients,” said his aunt, Linda Rumble, who organized the effort. She noted the family will be celebrating the lives he saved when they join hands across the international border with participants from the United States and Canada.
Participants will be wearing green ponchos and holding green glow sticks in honor of National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week this week. The hope is their actions will remind families to speak about their donation wishes, Rumble said.
Organ donation organizations from both countries will be participating including Trilium Gift of Life Network of Toronto, the New York State Alliance for Donation and the Niagara Health System in conjunction with Upstate New York Transplant Services.
“An event like this where we can join together with our Canadian neighbors in a place known throughout the world will be a tremendous help in increasing donation and transplantation awareness and spreading the message about the importance of giving the Gift of Life,” said Mark J. Simon, President of UNYTS.
The falls will be lit at two different times tonight. The first lighting will take place from 9 to 9:15 p.m. The second lighting will be from 10 to 10:15 p.m. Participants will form the symbolic green line at 10 p.m., according to planners.
“A green light is the universal symbol to go forward. It is a most appropriate symbol to celebrate the ultimate gift of life through an organ or tissue transplant,” says Niagara Falls provincial parliament member Kim Craitor. “The lack of organ donations is an international issue.”
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