photo: Laurie Olson
  
photo: Laurie Olson

The John Denver Memorial Peace Cloth

On the weekend of February 2, 3 and 4, 2001, a segment of the Peace Cloth traveled to Denver, Colorado to be a part of the national Kick-Off events celebrating the 4th annual Season for Non-Violence sponsored by the Gandhi Institute. It was on display during PEACEQUEST, a two-day conference for 6th thru high school students and was also on exhibit at the Mile-Hi Church of Denver. Ron Deutschendorf, President of the Windstar Foundation Board of Trustees, spoke at both events about the Peace Cloth project and the Windstar Foundation and how together they represent people's hopes for a peaceful world.
 
     

If you wish to donate to the Cloth, all that is asked is that it be an expression of your hopes and prayers for peace. Say a prayer for peace while you work on the panel! Many have incorporated John's themes and visions into the panels but please do whatever feels right for you. Panels can be accepted in any sizes although nothing wider than 36 inches to keep the Cloth somewhat standard in width.
History:
The idea sprang from an original concept entitled a *Cloth Of Many Colors*. That project was designed to collect small patches of cloth from people all over the globe, which would then be stitched into larger panels and finally into an enormous quilt, symbolizing the collective prayers and hopes for peace. It would ultimately become large enough to wrap around the United Nations building on September 19, 2000, celebrating World Peace day.

Peace Poem

There's a name for war and killing,

There's a name for giving in,

When you know another answer,

For me, the name is sin.

But there is still time to turn around,

And make all hatred cease,

And give another name to living,

And we could call it peace.

And peace would be the road we walk,

Each step along the way

And peace would be the way we work

And peace the way we play.

And in all we see that's different

And in all the things we know,

Peace would be the way we look

And peace the way we grow.

There's a name for separation.

There's a name for first and last.

When it's all of us or nothing,

For me, that name is past.

But there still is time to turn around

And make all hatred cease

And give a name to all the future

And we could call it peace.

And if peace is what we pray for,

And peace is what we give,

Then peace will be the way we are

And peace the way we live.

Yes, there is still time to turn around

And make all hatred cease.

Let's give another name to living

And we can call it PEACE.