Published: June 18, 2008 09:55 pm      

Pitt-Johnstown to host Quaker conference

More than 1,500 Quakers are expected at the annual gathering of the Friends General Conference, a North American Quaker organization, June 28 through July 5 on the Pitt-Johnstown campus.

The Quakers – also known as members of the Religious Society of Friends – will be coming from throughout the U.S. and Canada for the weeklong event.

The conference will include an one-day exhibit of more than 185 pairs of combat boots representing U.S. soldiers and military personnel from Pennsylvania who have been killed during the Iraq war. It also memorializes Iraqi civilian causalities in the war.

The exhibit – “Eyes Wide Open: The Cost of War to Pennsylvania” – will be on display from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 1 next to the UPJ Sports Center lawn.

It focuses on the specific costs of war to the state and is part of the Quakers’ national “Eyes Wide Open: The Human Cost of War” network.

The national exhibit first was on display at Chicago’s Federal Plaza with just more than 500 pairs of boots in January 2004.

The national exhibit was last displayed on Memorial Day weekend 2007 with more than 3,400 pairs.

The Quaker conference has as its theme, “Courageously Faithful,” designed to challenge members to draw inspiration from courageous acts of others, such as Martin Luther King Jr.

Activities will include workshops, evening presentations, Bible study and children’s programs.