Grand Rapids, Michigan

Peace Presence

The Peace Ribbon
Internationally Known as The Ribbon

 

 

By Ilene Van Bruggen

 

The Peace Ribbon has been on display in West Michigan on many occasions since 1985. It began with a remarkable woman, Justine Merritt. Her dream of a one-mile ribbon of peace around the Pentagon became a fifteen-mile reality throughout Washington, DC.

 

Thousands of peace messages were lovingly and prayerfully handcrafted on banners and then tied together for August 6, 1985, the 40th anniversary of the Hiroshima bomb. Hear the following words from Justine.

 

Tens of thousands of people have become involved with The Ribbon. Participants have come from all over the country. Persons who call themselves Christians, who call themselves atheists, good witches, Mennonites, Catholic bishops, rabbis, Buddhists, agnostics, persons of every age and color, of every economic background, all saying the same thing: we understand the power of weapons that are presently here on earth … Listen to us. Stop and listen. We love the earth and all its people. We want no part of nuclear war.

 

We have an opportunity to change and grow, and I want people to remember that for 37 years, from the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 until February of 1982, I was one of those people who said don't talk to me about nuclear destruction, don't talk to me about nuclear war – I don't want to hear it. Sooner or later, we must all hear it.

 

Justine had defined The Ribbon's theme as: what I can't bear to think of as lost forever in a nuclear war.

 

The statement was meant to help people face the realities of our nuclear age. On her own banner she had embroidered the names of hundreds of people she held dear. Other banners had representations of children, animals, music, nature …

 

Justine Merritt also wrote the following.

 

I think one of the reasons The Ribbon has touched so many hearts is because the segments represent such an expression of creativity, such an investment of time, and such personal statements … All over this nation, people have threaded their fears into prayers for peace, creating something beautiful to affirm the hope that is in all of us.

 

The Peace Ribbon is available for display at churches, schools, libraries and special events. For more information contact:

 

Ilene – vbilene@yahoo.com or (616) 532-6321

Corinne – auntynuke@aol.com or (616) 361-6169

 

 

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