One out of 25 Americans is said to be somehow connected to the kids represented in these statues.

Yes, they are playing and having fun.
But, pay attention to where they are.

Here is the most telling picture.

They are all by a train station.

Here is their story:

Unfortunately the center was closed by the time we drove into Concordia, Kansas.

You can copy & paste these links on to you browser for more information:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/orphan/
http://orphantraindepot.org/history/the-orphan-train-experience/

And to read some of those kid's stories, check this out:
http://orphantraindepot.org/orphan-train-rider-stories/

But, the stories do not end there.
Catholic Charities (in a program called Peter Pan) helped place children sent to the US by parents who could not leave Cuba after the revolution in the 1960's.
My 2 brothers were sent to a family in Las Vegas, New Mexico. 
Meanwhile my 15 year old sister and I (8 years old) stayed with a lady and her 2 children in a motel room in Miami, till our parents escaped form the island.

And the cycle seems to be occurring again, now from the Mexican border.

We certainly do appreciate all those involved, then and now.