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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Memorial Day Service Respects Troops Lost in Iraq


An ecumenical, interdenominational Peace Memorial Meditation Service will be held on Monday May 26 at 2 p.m. at the Rost family farm on Rost Road exit off of Route 50, located 9.6 miles east of the I-77 interchange near Dallison, just outside of Parkersburg, West Virginia.


The John Rost farm maintains a field of white crosses as a Peace Memorial to over 4,000 soldiers killed in Iraq in the last 5 years. (Those who have read my blog may remember the photos of Mr. Rost and the field of crosses.)


Area speakers include: Pastor Dave Jackson, Devola OH Congregational; Rev Kathryn Hawbacker, Marietta OH Unitarian; Rev. Jim Lewis Charleston WV Episcopal; Mr. Art Gish, Athens OH Christian Peacemaker Teams; and Fr. John Finnell, Ravenswood WV Catholic Parish. Each is a peacemaker in their own way.


The service will have an inter-faith focus with moments of silent meditation, on desires for peace and diffuculties in achieving it. It will honor those patriots who have paid the ultimate price in service to their country. Sponsor is Mid-Ohio Valley Peace Initiative (MOVPI), a regional secular peace advocacy group whose mission statement addresses the issue of the war in Iraq, and is dedicated to local, national, and global peacemaking.


The public is invited to attend, no charge, and are asked to bring their lawn chairs. Those wishing to bring an optional picnic lunch are welcome to set-up on the lawn before or after the service. Those who are able are asked to stay after service to assist in a work party to help maintain the thousands of crosses in place. For more information, contact Lynn Cady in Marietta at 740-374-2969 or Ray Foss in Parkersburg at 304-428-5056.

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