Mother's Day Proclamation

In 1870, the devastation of the American Civil War inspired social activist and poet Julia Ward Howe to call upon the women of the world to unite and rise up for an end to war:

"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

Read the rest of the original Mother's Day Proclamation

And watch the short video Mother's Day for Peace which renews the call for peace.