- December 20, 2024
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Troop 468 Life Scout Jordan Voss, Life Scout Chase Harrell and Eagle Scout Blake Harrell show off the Peace Light. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Troop 468 Life Scout Chase Harrell, Eagle Scout Blake Harrell, Life Scout Jordan Voss, Troop 468 Committee Chair Joanna Voss and First United Methodist Pastor Scott Smith. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Keely Deuschle, of Boy Scout Troop 25, carries the Peace Light through the sanctuary at First United Methodist Church on Thursday, Dec. 14. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Troop 468 Life Scout chase Harrell reads a portion of the program during the Peace Light transfer. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Troop 468 Eagle Scout Blake Harrell reads a portion of the program during the Peace Light transfer. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Troop 468 Life Scout Jordan Voss reads a portion of the program during the Peace Light transfer. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Troop 468 Committee Chair Joanna Voss, Pastor Scott Smith and Keely Deuschle perform the transfer of the Peace Light on Thursday, Dec. 14. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Troop 468 Committee Chair Joanna Voss accepts the Peace Light from Pastor Scott Smith on Thursday, Dec. 14. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Troop 468 Committee Chair Joanna Voss holds a candle for Pastor Scott Smith as he transfer the Peace Light on Thursday, Dec. 14. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
First United Methodist Church Pastor Scott Smith transfers the Peace Light to one of his church's candle. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
First United Methodist Church Pastor Scott Smith transfers the Peace Light to Mike Gulledge's lantern. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Boy Scouts Troop 468 now hold a symbol of peace.
On Thursday, Dec. 14, three scouts and Troop 468 Committee Chair Joanna Voss received the "Peace Light" from a leader of a troop in Orange Park at First United Methodist Church.
What is the Peace Light? It is a continuous flame originating from the grotto of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, located in the West Bank, Palestine. The flame, according to Peace Light North America, is shared person to person worldwide and serves a symbol of peace and friendship.
Every year, the light is typically retrieved by a child from Austria, and the flame is distributed throughout the European continent by Scouts and non-Scouts. This year, due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the peace light was lit by a local girl in Bethlehem, and the light was then flown to Amman, Jordan, where it was picked up by an Austrian child.
The flame was then transported to New York City by Austrian Airlines and a ceremony was held at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Dec. 3. After the ceremony, the flame was distributed throughout the U.S by "Keepers of the Light."
In Ormond Beach, First United Methodist Church was made aware of the Peace Light by Mike Gulledge, a member of the church. Pastor Scott Smith then reached out to Voss, and the small ceremony for the transfer of the Peace Light was organized.
Smith lit two of his church's candles with the Peace Light and said he plans to incorporate them into his Christmas Eve services.
