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Peace Light is shared around the globe
By LINDA M. LINONIS
warren
The origin and background of the Peace Light combine to make the flame special. And Valley residents will have the chance to share in it.
The flame comes from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where 15 oil lamps have been burning continuously for more than 1,000 years.
The Peace Light from Bethlehem campaign was organized 28 years ago by the Austrian Broadcasting Company as part of a large charitable relief mission, Light into Darkness, for children in need in Austria and abroad.
Since 1986, Scouts and Guides have made it possible for the light to travel worldwide.
On Nov. 24, 9-year-old Tizian Ronacher of Linz, Austria, lit his lamp from one of these eternal flames. For 26 years, the Austrian Boy Scouts and Girl Guides have distributed the Peace Light throughout Austria.
That light was transported to North America; it arrived Friday at Greater Western Reserve Council Boy Scouts of America, 4930 Enterprise Drive NW.
Joe Reding, who transported the Peace Light from New York City across Pennsylvania to Warren and beyond said, “The great thing about a flame is I can share it with you and have just as much as I started with while you have just as much as I had, and the world in general has more than we began with. Peace spreads the same way.”
Jason Wolf, Scout executive of the Greater Western Reserve Council, said, “People appreciate the opportunity of spreading the message of peace in their communities.”
People of all faiths are welcome to come to Boy Scout headquarters and receive the light and a wish for peace. Candles or lanterns are good tools to take home the light but are not provided so please bring them with you.
Wolf said this is the fourth year for the council to be involved in the Peace Light effort.
“We wanted to share in this effort and bring it to the local community and Scout family.”
The council covers Mahoning, Trumbull, Astabula, Geauga, Lake and part of Portage counties.
He said a number of Valley residents and churches come to the office to get the Peace Light.
Wolf said he knows of one Valley family who takes the flame and uses it to light luminaries on Christmas Eve.
“This means a lot to them,” he said.
The Peace Light is an ordinary flame but its symbolism is key.
“I believe it brings hope about peace. It’s meant to be shared as a gift to the community.”
On the Peace Light website, Wolf noted, people can track where the Peace Light has gone.
“It’s a powerful thing to see it spread around the world,” Wolf said.