Tell Us Your Personal Story
How do you feel about the peace symbol? Do you remember the first time
you ever saw it? Did you know what it represented? Do you have any
specific memories attached to an experience you had with the peace
symbol? Did you ever read or hear about anything regarding the peace
symbol that you found intriguing? How about any photos that you would
be willing to share? We are currently gathering more stories and photos
to include in a new volume we hope to publish sometime in the future.
If you have anything you would like to share, you will find out how to
do that on this page.
During our 40 years of research, we discovered countless interesting,
personal stories about the symbol from around the world. The stories
were fascinating, sometimes amusing, and even bizarre. They involved
adults, children, teachers, judges, politicians, police officers,
soldiers and veterans. They dealt with not only legal issues, but
often with personal and emotional topics revolving around the peace
symbol. Here are some examples:
- In 1970, a Temple University graduate was arrested in Trenton, New
Jersey because he displayed the peace symbol with the American flag on
his ice cream wagon. His conviction was overturned three years later by
a unanimous New Jersey State Court verdict declaring the law was
arbitrary, overbroad and unconstitutional.
- During the Vietnam War, soldiers bent grenade cotter pins into the
shape of the peace symbol…perhaps to relieve frustration, boredom or
hopelessness but also to show their desire for peace.
- In November 2006, Bill Trimarco and Lisa Jensen from Pagosa Springs,
Colorado displayed a four-foot Christmas wreath in the shape of a peace
symbol on their sub-division home. The three-member board of the Homeowners
Association ordered its removal and wanted to fine the couple $25 a day
until it was removed. One association member told a reporter he thought
the symbol was linked to the devil. A public outcry from locals and bloggers
around the world made this story front-page news. Many neighbors and
sympathizers showed support by displaying peace symbol wreaths on their own
homes. Three association board members resigned.
Creativity is so delicate a flower that praise tends to make it bloom,
while discouragement often nips it in the bud. Any of us will put out
more and better ideas if our efforts are appreciated.
Alex F. Osborn
We have also posted a few of our own stories and the related photos. We
have many more to share. Our story is your story. We are all striving for
peace. Sharing the experiences an ordinary citizen’s individual peace
efforts personalize the peace movement and add the human element. It is
vital that each person feel they can make a difference in the peace
movement and these stories prove it. Let’s share it with the world.
We are looking forward to reading about your experiences…or ones you might
have heard about or read about…relating to the peace symbol. Email
your stories, photos, news clippings etc. to:
or you can mail them to PO Box 493, Forestville, CA 95436. If you want
more information, feel free to email or write. If we use your story or photo
in the book, we would of course request your written permission beforehand
and credit you for anything you have sent us. You would also receive a
signed copy of the book.
Hearing your stories of peace will be an uplifting event during these troubled
times, and hopefully we can share them with the world in a future book. Thank
you for all your efforts towards the goal of a peaceful world.
Ken and Jannice Kolsbun
Our Personal Stories
- In 1972, my brother-in-law, Ken Morrison, a cattle rancher in central California,
tried a new approach throughout the family spread by posting several of his
hand-painted "peace" plow discs throughout the ranch. His mother, a member of an
old-time cattle ranching family in Merced, became upset and painted over his peace
symbols. Ken was furious. The last word was that his mother did not find all that
were posted. Those few remaining discs can still be seen today.
