Whose Bench of Friendship
IN HONOR OF
THE BLACKSMITHS OF THE KOVGARD FORGE
IN THE URAL MOUNTAINS OF RUSSIA, WHOSE BENCH OF
FRIENDSHIP, GIVEN TO THE LAKES REGION, IS A WORK OF ART,
COURAGE, AND CONVICTION: THE CONVICTION THAT ALL PEOPLES AND
NATIONS ARE FREE TO GIVE EACH OTHER THEIR BEST. THE BENCH WAS MADE
OVER A PERIOD OF 4 MONTHS, AT NIGHT, AFTER THE BLACKSMITHS' REGULAR
WORK WAS DONE. THE FRAME, MADE FROM SCRAPS OF METAL AN AVERAGE OF
SIX INCHES IN LENGTH, REPRESENTS THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF HAMMER
BLOWS. EVEN THE NUTS AND BOLTS WERE EACH MADE BY HAND. THE TOY IS
SYMBOLIC OF ALL WE COULD ACHIEVE BY HELPING EACH OTHER. THE BENCH
WAS FINISHED DECEMBER 13, 2007, WHICH COINCIDED WITH THE 200TH
ANNIVERSARY OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND
AMERICA. ALONG WITH ITS HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE, THE
GIFT IS ONLY IN PART A BENCH TO REST ON.
IT IS A HOPE TO LIVE WITH.
