History

Chronology of Peace Movement in Loveland

Late 1980s	Through a series of community meetings and potlucks, a group of Loveland citizens organized as the Loveland Coalition for Peace. On several occasions, the group sponsored candlelight vigils from Foote Lagoon to the Loveland Museum.
Early 1990s	The Coalition of Peace mobilized around the Gulf War. Because several families had younger children, the Coalition organized several events that combined concern about the environment with opposition to war. Dr. Joe Jabaily was instrumental in sponsoring Earth Day and May Day celebrations for children.
1991	The Coalition of Peace adopted the sculpture “Peace Child” after its installation in Benson Sculpture Park. The Coalition provides landscaping and maintenance for the peace sculpture.
1995	The coalition held a vigil at the peace pole in Peters Park on the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima.
2001	As Operation Iraqi Freedom drew our nation into war in the Middle East again, the Coalition sponsored a Forum at the public library to present various perspective for reaching common ground. At the same time, peace activists held street corner demonstrations each Saturday at the corner of Eisenhower and Taft Avenues.
2006	With renewed energy, local activists formed Loveland Peacemakers. This group has sponsored a number of community meetings, educational events, and public vigils as well as continuing the Saturday morning street corner demonstrations.
2007	The first Peace in the Park festival was held in August at Foote Lagoon.
2008	Loveland Peacemakers hosted Eyes Wide Open, an exhibition on the human costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan coordinated by the Americans Friend Service Committee (AFSC). It features a pair of empty US combat boots to represent each fallen soldier.
2009	Loveland Peace hosted the film Taking Chance, which chronicles Lt. Col. Michael Strobl’s journey escorting the body of a PFC Chance Phelps back to his hometown from the Iraq War. Chance’s mother and the parents of local service members killed in action joined the audience.