Berlin, Germany – Cyclists and marchers set out from Berlin’s famous Brandenburg Gate on July 14, 2024, following a route replete with symbolism, to participate in UPF-Germany’s Peace Road Berlin 2024. Under the theme “Respect – Reconciliation – Unity: We are one human family,” participants visited several landmarks that inspired them to think, pray, talk and sing about suffering, injustice, war, forgiveness, reconciliation and peace.
The event began with an orientation and explanation of its significance. As they passed the nearby US Embassy and Russian Embassy, marchers were reminded that in 1981 UPF founder Dr. Sun Myung Moon proposed a major tunnel-and-bridge project to connect Alaska and Siberia. It was envisioned as part of the proposed International Peace Highway that is the inspiration for Peace Road projects all over the world.
Everyone sang “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me” in the median strip facing the Russian Embassy, where Ukrainians have set up a little informative memorial.
At the Holocaust Memorial, Ms. Hilke Ganz offered a moving prayer, saying it was the mission of those who are alive today to heal the crimes of our forefathers. From there, the marchers and the cyclists took different routes, to meet again – a couple of hours and an unexpected strong downpour later – at the Chapel of Reconciliation at the Berlin Wall Memorial.
The cyclists, passing thousands of soccer fans in downtown Berlin assembled for the European Football Championship finals later that evening, rode to the embassies of South Korea and Ukraine, and other sites connected to current and past conflicts, to pray and envision scenarios of reconciliation and peaceful new beginnings.
The marchers passed by the North Korean Embassy, the Peter Fechter Memorial and the busts of former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, former US President George H.W. Bush, and former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, “fathers of German unification.”
The Peter Fechter Memorial pays tribute to a young man, just 18 years old, who bled to death in the so-called death-strip in 1962, after being shot down from the wall as he and a friend tried to escape to West Berlin. This memorial now stands exactly where in 1987, the affiliated student organization CARP held a large rally calling for the Berlin Wall to be torn down.
As they walked and shared a light lunch, the marchers shared many stories related to the division and reunification of Germany.
Peace Road Berlin 2024 was particularly special thanks to the participation of and input by several members of two meditation and healing groups, as well as a married couple who are pastors and ambassadors for peace, who contributed to making the brief closing event rich and peaceful.
By Gudrun Hassinen, Vice Chair, UPF-Germany July 14, 2024
