The Embassy of Japan in the United States donated a cherry blossom sculpture to the alma mater of an American woman who was killed in the tsunami that hit northeastern Japan in 2011.

Taylor Anderson of Virginia was an assistant professor of English in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture. She died when the tsunami hit the city in March 2011.

The sculpture was made to express gratitude for American support in the aftermath of the tsunami, as this year marks the 10th anniversary of the disaster.

A dedication ceremony was held at Randolph-Macon College in Virginia on Wednesday to pay tribute to him and promote friendly relations between Japan and the United States.

Anderson’s parents and Japanese Ambassador to the United States, Tomita Koji, were among the attendees.

A student at the college, which offers Japanese education, said in Japanese that he wanted to study hard so that he could serve as a bridge between countries.

Anderson’s father Andy said one of the tenets his daughter lived by was better to give than to receive, adding that when you give, you get a lot in return, and that’s part of what ‘they learned from his life.

The Andersons created a fund in Taylor’s name to make their daughter’s wish come true, who had wanted to be a bridge between Japan and the United States.

They donated books to 24 schools in Ishinomaki and other affected communities.