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Neighbors | Submitted.Last year members of Boy Scout Troop 22 of Youngstown transferred the International Peace Light to the owners, Dora Jean and Stephan Havrilla of the JMJ Spiritual Connections II store in Cornersburg. Participating in the ceremony were, from left, Anson Hankey, Tyler Bartell, Ryan Brooks, Aden Hankey Michael Curry, Rocco Shasho, Asst. Scoutmaster Ron Brooks and Scoutmaster Jim Bartell.
With the arrival of the International Peace Light on Nov. 29 at the Greater Western Reserve Boy Scout Council office in Warren, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts will be busy distributing the Peace Light flame to churches and their friends and families in the valley.
Once again, this year the JMJ Spiritual Connection II store, located at 3408 Canfield Road in Youngstown (Cornersburg), will be hosting the International Peace Light for distribution to the public and churches during their normal business hours Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. beginning Dec. 3 until Jan. 7. People of all faiths are welcome to receive the light and a wish for peace. Candles or lanterns are good tools to take home the light, but are not provided, so bring them with you to receive the flame. It is best to have two people in a vehicle when traveling with the Peace Light. Supplies are on hand that can be purchased at the store for the safe transport of the flame. People from as far as Salem and other areas will be coming to the store to receive the flame.
In the Church of the Nativity in the grotto where the Christ child was born in Bethlehem, there are 15 oil lamps that have been burning continuously for more than a thousand years. This is the Peace Light flame. The Peace Light from Bethlehem campaign was originally organized by the Austrian Broadcasting Company - ORF (Linz) - and was part of a large charitable relief mission - Light into Darkness, for children in need in Austria and abroad. Since 1986, the Peace Light Flame is delivered by a young Austrian child to the Austrian Airlines where it is placed in two blast proof miners lamps and flown from Tel Aviv, Israel to Vienna, Austria. The Austrian Boy Scouts and Girl Guides have been distributing the Peace Light throughout Austria and with a great deal of co-operation between Scouts and Guides in many countries, the light has traveled from Vienna to more than 20 European Countries.
Austrian Airlines has been flying the Peace Light on to New York City since 2001. It arrived at JFK international airport on Nov. 26 and is traveling from there as far north as Winnipeg, Ontario, Canada and as far west as Los Angeles, Calif. through the efforts of many Scouters.
This year’s sponsor in the United States is the Brooklyn Catholic Committee on Scouting. They have provided for its distribution throughout North America, including Canada and Mexico. All Peace Lights originated from this American location as couriers deliver the Peace Light to various locations on the continent.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Greater Western Reserve Council is bringing the Peace Light flame to northeast Ohio and Scouts, Scouters and friends have accepted the challenge to become channels of peace by receiving the flame and passing it on to others in their communities and beyond.
In past years many groups and people have taken the Peace Light back to their churches and homes to deliver a message of peace. John Schlobohm, Assistant Scout Executive of the Greater Western Reserve Council commented that “People appreciate the opportunity of spreading the message of Peace in their communities, this is why we are a part of this effort.” For questions, please call the Greater Western Reserve Council office at 330-898-8474 or by email gwrc@bsa-gwrc.org .
For current information about its travel across North America, check out the Facebook page, “Peace Light - North America” or the website www.peacelight.org.