Peace Poetry Contest, Veterans for Peace. 14th Annual. May 18, 2024

About the Peace Poetry Contest 14th Year
This is the fourteenth year that Gainesville Veterans for Peace has organized the Peace Poetry Contest in Alachua County, where all students, grades K-12, are encouraged to submit one original poem focusing on their interpretation of "peace:'
Veterans for Peace members believe that peace-making and hope for a peaceful world begin in our community, our homes, and our schools. That is why we invited students to participate in the contest this year; a peaceful possibility lies in the younger generations of today who will be leading, transforming, and inspiring the world tomorrow.
Though this contest holds no formal position on the current state of world affairs, we still want to honor the ideal of peace through the perspectives of young people. Peace is a uniquely human conception and affirms the human spirit. It is especially important to remember that peace is not merely a goal but a human right. In that spirit of reflection, we are very pleased with the success of this year's contest.
This year we received over 140 poems from first through twelfth grades, and the poems were judged by a panel of community and Veterans for Peace members. The winners were invited to read at the Peace Poetry Reading, and their poems are published in this book.
Veterans for Peace would first and foremost like to thank all of the participants in the Peace Poetry Contest. Without the poetry submissions, there would be no Peace Poetry Contest and none of the dialogue that comes with it
Parents and teachers also play a large role in the Peace Poetry Contest every year by encouraging their children to participate. Thank you for helping make the Peace Poetry Contest a success.
Because of the trying circumstances over the last few years, we are especially grateful for the students and teachers who still felt inspired to submit Peace Poems.
Maryjane Cook and Skylar Scott were integral to this year's contest and the Reading. Thank you.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville has hosted the Peace Poetry Con­test for fourteen years now, and Veterans for Peace is grateful for their support and con­tinued cooperation. Specifically, thank you to UUF and VFP member Mary Bahr who helps with the arrangements for the Reading.
About the
Peace Scholarship
Earlier this year, Veterans for Peace announced the tenth annual Peace Scholarship award, a college scholarship program for Alachua County students. The scholarship competition was open to eligible high school seniors, college students, and adults who need financial support to succeed in college or vocational/apprenticeship/career train­ing programs, and who have demonstrated a commitment to activities including: social justice and peace, coalition building, Black Lives Matter, conflict resolution and/or non­violent social change.
Produced by the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program
University of Florida Program director:
352 392-7168 oral.history.ufl.edu
241 Pugh Hall University of Florida
Cat. No.VHP 029 Peace Poetry 14th 5-18-2024