Home Page: -- Upcoming Events

August 4, 2018 Lanterns for Peace

(Dodgeville) Would your family like to participate in a festival of hope – one that envisions a compassionate, sustainable and peaceful world? If so, you are invited to Twin Valley Lake in Governor Dodge Park at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 4 for the “Lanterns for Peace.” Professional singer, composer and guitarist, Rich Baumann, will share his songs of hope for both children and adults. Together families will create paper lanterns and share in activities and conversations. Later the lanterns will be floated in a stunningly beautiful procession of lights across the darkening waters of Twin Valley Lake.

“Lanterns for Peace,” began in Japan as a commemoration of the loss of innocent lives in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. “Lanterns for Peace” was a way of saying “Never again!” to nuclear weapons specifically and to war in general.

In was brought to the United States in the mid 80’s by James and Peggy Baumgaertner of LaCrosse. The idea spread rapidly across the country as part of the people-to-people, anti-nuclear peace movement with the people of USSR and Japan.

In the late 80’s Joel Gaalswyck, a Vietnam Veteran for Peace, and Chloe Weil initiated “Lanterns for Peace” on the Wisconsin River near Spring Green. Cathy Palzkill shared that “one of my most vivid memories is that of Joel planting his American flag in the sand at Peck’s Landing on the Wisconsin River and explaining that we all should be proud of our patriotism to confront the threat of nuclear weapons.”

About 15 years ago, when Joel’s health began to fail, Grassroots Citizens for Peace and Justice, brought the event to Governor Dodge Park on Twin Valley Lake. Jane Kavaloski remembers how everyone worked together to expand Joel’s dream. Fanou and Bryan Walton perfected the art of lantern assembling; Marie Baker set up “green” system for food sharing; JorJan Borlin provided art displays; Mary Ann and Michael Wolkomir provided music; Judy James organized name tags and petitions; Jane became the MC and Vince provided the documentation about the arms race and nuclear weapons.

Over time this anti-nuclear event broadened to include a vision of the Earth in harmony with nature and life itself. Chuck Tennessen, from Sustain Iowa County, joined the planning team and created children’s activities. “Lanterns for Peace” has become a paean of hope to our shared future as a human family all across this planet. For Chuck Tennessen the “Lanterns for Peace” is “a time for folks to gather to remind ourselves of the continued threat of war and nuclear weapons and to celebrate peace in the serenity of our beautiful valley.”

Then, at dusk, a long chain of glowing paper lanterns, decorated with hopeful messages and images will slowly drift out over Twin Valley Lake. Marie Baker remembers one year, when the event was threatened by a pending tornado. “But a group gathered nevertheless and as they slowly descended to the lake, the clouds miraculously parted and the skies cleared.” This resplendent vision of harmony, beauty and light ignites within our hearts a deep hope for a world beyond war, greed and destruction.

We hope to see you at Governor Dodge Park on Saturday, August 4. Please bring a kind-heartedness, a hopeful spirit, and finger-food to share. Water will be provided. A day pass or park sticker will be required.

This year’s gathering is co-sponsored by the Iowa County Citizens for Peace and Justice and Sustain Iowa County. However, we are looking for a new generation of local visionaries to carry-on (and re-design, if desired) this local, yet international, festival of hope. As ancient prophets said: “Without a vision, the people will perish.”

For more information, contact Jane H. Kavaloski at [email protected].

Archive:

April 7, 2020 Spring Election and Presidential Preference Primary
March 25, 2020 Informed Lafayette Action Monthly Meeting
March 21, 2020 12th Annual Wisconsin Grassroots Festival
March 8, 2020 Build Unity Tour
March 7, 2020 Wisconsin Farmers Union Iowa-Grant Spring Meeting
February 22, 2020 Soil Health & Diversity: Keeping Farms Economically and Ecologically Sustainable
February 19, 2020 Driftless Area Drinking Liberally Chapter Meeting
February 18, 2020 Spring Primary 7AM-8PM
February 6, 2020 A Nonpartisan Case for Electoral Innovation 6:30PM
February 4, 2020 Proposed New Library Meeting with the Architects 6-8PM

View all from: 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010