Point 1 [2] – Peace doves

in the Nicolaas & Barbara Curch on September 31, 2024

After the opening celebration in the church, paper “peace doves” were distributed.

Doves in many colors, lovingly cut out and provided with a string to hang them in the Tree of Peace. Very unfortunate: the many school children, who could have left their thoughts about peace here, did not come. Except for one school: the Sacred Heart elementary school from Sibbe. However, adults - including many tourists - did take the opportunity to write down a peace wish. War is of all times, but so is a longing for peace, as the words below show: one great call for peace…

Peace, peace, peace. Peace now, peace here, peace everywhere. Keep hoping. Work for peace. Peace you must do. Peace is so wonderful. May we cherish peace. ”Peace on earth, in men a delight”. Lasting peace also for today’s generation. Peace in Gaza. World peace. Peace...precious and so important; we are committed to it. No more war. War is bad. This must never happen again. No more hunger. I wish everyone to be equal. Tolerance. Respect. Appreciate each other. We should be kind to each others. Listening to each others without judgment. Unity among family members. Together One World. Our thoughts are with Ukraine. Long live these heroes. Pray for daddy. Thank you to all our liberators. Thanks for our freedom. Thankful for 80 years of peace. Pax-Peace-Paix-Vrae-Peace!

At the end of the afternoon - on their own initiative - a couple of mothers and a grandmother entered the church. A little boy didn’t quite know what to write. He began to decorate the wing of the paper dove. What a beautiful sign of HOPE: a child, hanging his dove with a decorated wing in the tree of peace.

Peace. World peace, Starting in Valkenburg aan de Geul.

Riet Nijland workgroup Peace Valkenburg aan de Geul.

| resistance in Valkenburg | genocide of the Jews in Limburg | genocide of the Romani in Limburg and elsewhere | Germans killed in action in Valkenburg-Houthem |