Unificationists Look to Establish UN Memorial at the DMZ

Photos courtesy of Soonmee Iwasaki

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in late spring, wearing a collared blue shirt and jeans, Soonmee Iwasaki joins a group assembling in a shaded narrow plaza in downtown New York City. Colorful posters in hand, people of all ages and backgrounds have gathered for an interfaith peace march recognizing the victims of conflicts happening across the globe.

The March

“I was inspired by the enthusiasm of others,” Soonmee recalls. “There were quite a few young people, many from Heavenly USA.” The young Unificationist, representing the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP), quickly felt at ease among the many faith leaders and various organizations at the event. Led by co-chairs Bishop Dr. Lubin Moise and IAYSP President Rev. Miilhan Stephens, more than 20 religious leaders initiated the “Peace, Unity and Reconciliation March” held May 27 at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza on 47th Street.

“It was so nice to see those representing different organizations, and to hear the speakers who came out that day,” Soonmee says. “It gave me a sense of confidence and pride to be among these different religious leaders.” As the peace march grew organically, Soonmee says she felt like she was “part of something that was a true grassroots effort.” 

“The outreach was calm and peaceful, and there was no political affiliation,” she notes, as the group sought signatures for a petition in support of establishing a UN memorial at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Korea to honor the victims of conflict around the world.

The Cause 

Currently, there are ongoing wars or conflicts happening in 174 countries, ranging from territorial disputes, drug wars, ethnic and religious conflicts, terrorist insurgencies, and civil battles all tracked by the UN and other foreign relations organizations.

“Urging the UN to establish a memorial that honors all the lives lost in wars and conflicts between nations and within nations, we can give a voice to those who lost a loved one through this petition,” says Rev. Stephens, who drafted the UN request.

The Meeting

A month later, on June 29, efforts to realize the UN memorial were underway. On a Thursday afternoon at the United Nations building in Manhattan, some 30 people representing different Unification affiliates and other faith groups gather in a private dining room. A luncheon and roundtable discussion provides the strategic framework needed for next steps toward the memorial project, as well as securing sponsorship.

“A lot of [the meeting] was vision-casting and encouraging community donations,” Soonmee says. “Getting commitment from the attendees to support this cause and support this big project by tapping each individual’s network and resources.”

Inspired by True Parents, the group knows the symbolic power of building such a memorial and the great impact it can have worldwide. “My UN petition is written in the spirit of True Parents’ dream to have a memorial on the DMZ that honors the lives lost on both sides of the Korean War,” says Rev. Stephens. “There is not one war memorial on earth that honors the lives of both their own nation’s soldiers and their opponents.”

A father of three, Rev. Stephens says it’s important to teach the next generation empathy and “how to feel the pain [of others]” to successfully bring about God’s vision of peace, reconciliation, and unity among all people. “The UN needs our help,” he says, “[to] create a model world.”

You can sign the UN memorial petition here, and stay tuned for more updates on this initiative.