The cost of war, the promise of peace
This mile-long memorial banner was created to honor the children of the world whose lives were taken by war. The children in each participating country elected to write the names of those from “enemy” countries whose loved ones were as treasured as their own.
For over 20 years the banner traveled the world as a symbol of Peace and a reminder of the cost of war. It was highlighted during the opening ceremonies of the United Nations, unfurled on the Great Wall of China, and wrapped the site of a school massacre in Russia.
Now the Banner of Hope is going on a national tour of the United States as a stark reminder of the lives of children lost to gun violence in schools since Columbine. The names, ages and photographs of all of the kids who've been killed will be applied to the banner by other children and we will unfurl the banner in communities throughout the country and ultimately in front of the halls of Congress.
Will you join us? There is much work to do and we need your help!
There are many other ways to get involved with Peace to the Planet. Find your passion and discover your contribution.
For over 20 years the banner traveled the world as a symbol of Peace and a reminder of the cost of war. It was highlighted during the opening ceremonies of the United Nations, unfurled on the Great Wall of China, and wrapped the site of a school massacre in Russia.
Now the Banner of Hope is going on a national tour of the United States as a stark reminder of the lives of children lost to gun violence in schools since Columbine. The names, ages and photographs of all of the kids who've been killed will be applied to the banner by other children and we will unfurl the banner in communities throughout the country and ultimately in front of the halls of Congress.
Will you join us? There is much work to do and we need your help!
There are many other ways to get involved with Peace to the Planet. Find your passion and discover your contribution.
#KidsNotGuns
By Pat Montandon
Name after name written
With painstaking care
And a quiet anguish
As the children realize
How easily their names could be there
They know the suffering that precede
Those names finally coming to rest
On a red silk memorial.
The silk undulates in the wind
Scarlet, moving, writhing
Like a thing alive
Alive, with the heartbeats of Children
Caught in the clammy web of violence.
Dear mother, dear father, dear uncle, dear aunt,
Dear grandmother, dear grandfather,
Dear friend,
Scream out
Let everyone know
We must not kill our young.
And Listen, listen
To the beat of new life
See the many young hands
From across the planet
That wrote the names
On the Banner of Hope
A hope that transcends
Hatred, bigotry,
Politics, apathy.
A Hope we must nourish to full life
From a small flame
That’s flickering
To a conflagration
Look upon this banner
And see the many children
Who lost their lives
Look upon this banner
And vow to keep all life
For them,
At peace
At last.
We love you dear children
We love you
We love you
By Pat Montandon
Name after name written
With painstaking care
And a quiet anguish
As the children realize
How easily their names could be there
They know the suffering that precede
Those names finally coming to rest
On a red silk memorial.
The silk undulates in the wind
Scarlet, moving, writhing
Like a thing alive
Alive, with the heartbeats of Children
Caught in the clammy web of violence.
Dear mother, dear father, dear uncle, dear aunt,
Dear grandmother, dear grandfather,
Dear friend,
Scream out
Let everyone know
We must not kill our young.
And Listen, listen
To the beat of new life
See the many young hands
From across the planet
That wrote the names
On the Banner of Hope
A hope that transcends
Hatred, bigotry,
Politics, apathy.
A Hope we must nourish to full life
From a small flame
That’s flickering
To a conflagration
Look upon this banner
And see the many children
Who lost their lives
Look upon this banner
And vow to keep all life
For them,
At peace
At last.
We love you dear children
We love you
We love you