Participate in community peace vigil. Students in Tim Lehman's eighth-grade social studies class put their studies and beliefs into action on May 21 as they volunteered to join a community peace vigil that has been held every Wednesday at noon for the past couple of years.

Earlier in the year the class studied the U.S. Bill of Rights and freedoms associated with protesting government actions. Then during the class's recent study of the 1846-48 Mexican-American War, students discussed parallels to the current War in Iraq. Upon learning that many people protested the Mexican-American War, including Abraham Lincoln and Henry David Thoreau--the latter went to jail rather than pay a war tax--many students wanted to do something to protest the War in Iraq.

At their request, Mr. Lehman arranged for interested students to participate in the May 21 community peace vigil so they could act on their beliefs, experience a protest, and observe how others reacted to them. About 2/3 of the class chose to participate in the vigil in front of the Elkhart County Courthouse.

Community Prayer for Peace: Students join in prayer at the May 21 Community Peace Vigil.

Students at Community Peace Vigil: Bethany students pose with their signs in front of the Elkhart County Courthouse.