Center for Peace and Justice - How did we begin?

| Submitted by admin on October 6, 2005 - 8:37pm.
(Published in the Fall 2005 issue of the CPJ Newsletter.)
Editor’s note – As a relative newcomer to the CPJ, I was curious about the group’s origin.  Perhaps others may be as well.  I talked to three local residents and long-time CPJ members, Willard Gaeddert, Rodney Houck, and Dan O’Rourke, to learn how the organization came into being. 
- Cindy Yochym, Newsletter Editor

In 1962, as U.S. involvement in Vietnam was escalating, Willard Gaeddert participated in a public forum on the topic - “A Just War?”  Mr. Gaeddert had just moved to Fredonia that same year to teach physics at the State College.  This was only one of the many expressions for peace that he has made, including being one of the founders of the Dunkirk-Fredonia Center for Peace and Justice.

Raised in the Mennonite faith in Kansas, and now a Quaker, Mr. Gaeddert was a religious objector in World War II. He served by helping forest fighters in a Civilian Public Service Camp in Idaho.  In the following years, he held teaching positions in colleges around the country.  By the late 1960’s, when the Vietnam War was at its height, Mr. Gaeddert joined with others of like minds in the Dunkirk-Fredonia area who opposed the war to form the CPJ.  These individuals participated in protests and counseled conscientious objectors. 

By the 1970’s, the CPJ addressed the nuclear freeze movement.   In the years since the Vietnam War, CPJ activities have included the support of Habitat for Humanity, the annual Dunkirk-Fredonia Holocaust Remembrance, disaster relief efforts, and the annual appeal to help Ann Marie Zon’s mission in Nicaraugua.  The CPJ has contacted elected officials and local media to support pro-peace positions.  It has organized public gatherings and peace vigils.  Members have marched in Dunkirk’s Memorial Day Parade under the banner, “Remember the Dead; Work for Peace,” and participated in informational presentations to increase public awareness.   

There have been times when membership has been very small and interest waned.  Thoughts of dissolving the group were raised.  However, stalwarts expressed the belief that there needed to be the continued local presence of this group to serve as a witness for peace and examine non-violent approaches to conflict.  Members did not give up, and the CPJ has been in existence for over 35 years.  For the future, the group hopes to continue and grow with increased involvement of college students and younger members to address the questions of war and injustice.