To preserve these memories, Elyn founded "Friends of Kuliang" in 2016, uniting about 50 descendants of Kuliang's American families. Their reunion reached a climax at Fuzhou's 2023 "Bond with Kuliang" Forum, where Elyn declared: "These moving stories represent generations of friendship. Now it's our turn to tend the flame of friendship that has long connected our two peoples."

Her efforts earned recognition in China. She was named among "Touching China's 2023 Persons of the Year" and honored with the Friendship Envoy Award at the Orchid Awards in July this year.

The Orchid Awards were established to honor international friends who have contributed to fostering cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.

"I have spent much of my life building bridges between our nations. The bridges are not made of steel or stone. They are built from warm, kindhearted people, and the stories of their lives in China that I have had the privilege to share," she said.