The Friends Ending Gun Violence Collaborative, in partnership with Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence, will host a Memorial to the Lost® installation at Arch Street Meeting House from November 8th to November 14th, 2024. Friends are invited to gather for a dedication event on Friday, November 8th, at 3:00 PM. As well as a silent vigil at 5:30 PM following the Memorial Meeting for Worship.
As part of Fall Continuing Sessions, this installation serves as both a witness to the tragedy of gun violence and an invitation to Friends to engage in the work of peacebuilding. Each t-shirt in the memorial bears the name and death dates of an individual killed in gun violence. The memorial offers a powerful, visual reminder of the devastating impact gun violence has on families, meetings, and communities.
Why This Witness Matters to Friends
As Quakers, we are called to live out the testimony of peace. Gun violence challenges the foundation of that testimony, claiming over 40,000 lives annually in the United States. This memorial stands as a public witness to the sanctity of life, providing space for reflection and calling Friends to engage with the work of addressing gun violence.
Highlights:
- A t-shirt memorial representing individuals lost to gun violence in Philadelphia.
- Attend the dedication event on Friday, November 8th, at 3:00 PM.
- A silent vigil following the Memorial Meeting for Worship on November 8th.
“The work of Heeding God’s Call began at a Peace Conference held by Quakers and the Historic Peace Churches at Arch Street Meeting House in 2009. At that time, we shut down a shop that was illegally selling guns, which made their way into the hands of people who were not allowed to own them. Fifteen years later, record numbers of families are devastated each year when a loved one is killed by guns. This memorial and the Friends Ending Gun Violence Collaborative bring home the impact of gun violence in our city.” said Christie Duncan-Tessmer, General Secretary, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.
For more information, accommodations, or to learn how your community can host the memorial, contact FEGVClerk@pym.org.
