By Sharon Tillman, September 22, 2009
[Episcopal News Service] On the day designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Peace, the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Baltimore, hosted a Peace Witness, a reading of the names of the American service men and women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2002.
It was one of several similar vigils held at Episcopal churches and cathedrals on Sept. 21 in response to a call to action from Episcopal Peace Fellowship, an independent organization originally founded in 1939.
The reading on Sept. 21 of more than 4,800 names was led by the Rev. Hal T. Ley Hayek, dean-elect of the cathedral, and the Rev. Madeleine Beard, deacon of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Highland (Maryland), both members of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship. Visitors joined in the reading of names. There were approximately 30 witnesses to the reading, which was scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m.
Beard’s son spent 15 months in Iraq and lost a friend in combat. Before he was deployed Beard asked what she could do and he asked that she pray for him.
