The Warrior's Prayer for Peace
I was inspired to make this box by the many veterans I have had the privilege of getting to know through the organization “Woodworking for Warriors,” a charitable organization dedicated to providing a supportive environment for all veterans, fostering personal development and fellowship through woodworking. As we call it, “Therapy disguised as woodworking.”
With over 300 members, we have veterans who have served in each of the major wars in the past 70-plus years— Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, the War in Iraq, and many other conflicts of our times. What strikes me most is that these warriors are peaceful, caring people who know more than most the costs of being prepared for and fighting in wars. I have grown convinced that it is the warrior, among all others, who is prepared for war but prays for peace—not to save the warrior from battle, but to save mankind from the results of the conflict.
I crafted this box mostly from curly purpleheart with a curly maple bottom. The purpleheart, known for its rich, vibrant hue, signifies strength and resilience, with a nod to the Purple Heart Medal awarded to those warriors injured in conflict. The light-colored curly maple bottom, honed to a bright shine, represents peace, the foundation of what we all must seek. The burnt edges of the square box joints suggest the potential result of not obtaining peace. On the bottom, my Maker’s Mark coin is embedded in pink ivory, a rare and exotic wood, symbolizing the beauty and rarity of peace, and the uniqueness of each warrior’s journey.
The top of the lid is adorned with a peace symbol, a memory I have from my childhood in the 60s, where on the nightly news I would see protestors rallying around the symbol and many soldiers in Vietnam with it drawn on their helmets. It is fashioned to suggest a veteran’s burial flag, and the Amethyst Crystal, used for the handle, is known as a sign of peace, left rough cut because peace is not smooth. I wrote the poem on the underside of the lid to echo my view of the sentiments of warriors throughout history—those who arm themselves for battle often do so with the hope that, as a result, peace will ultimately prevail.
In every clash, a prayer concealed,
A wish for calm, for wounds to heal.
Prepare for war, but peace decree,
So peace may be our legacy.
It is intended to serve as a reminder that even in times of conflict, our ultimate goal must be to achieve peace, harmony, and calm.
May this box, "The Warrior's Prayer for Peace," inspire you to find balance in your own life, and to prepare for challenges with the goal of peace. May peace be the legacy we leave to our children and our children’s children.
Little Boxes Series #2
I was inspired to make this box by the many veterans I have had the privilege of getting to know through the organization “Woodworking for Warriors,” a charitable organization dedicated to providing a supportive environment for all veterans, fostering personal development and fellowship through woodworking. As we call it, “Therapy disguised as woodworking.”
With over 300 members, we have veterans who have served in each of the major wars in the past 70-plus years— Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, the War in Iraq, and many other conflicts of our times. What strikes me most is that these warriors are peaceful, caring people who know more than most the costs of being prepared for and fighting in wars. I have grown convinced that it is the warrior, among all others, who is prepared for war but prays for peace—not to save the warrior from battle, but to save mankind from the results of the conflict.
I crafted this box mostly from curly purpleheart with a curly maple bottom. The purpleheart, known for its rich, vibrant hue, signifies strength and resilience, with a nod to the Purple Heart Medal awarded to those warriors injured in conflict. The light-colored curly maple bottom, honed to a bright shine, represents peace, the foundation of what we all must seek. The burnt edges of the square box joints suggest the potential result of not obtaining peace. On the bottom, my Maker’s Mark coin is embedded in pink ivory, a rare and exotic wood, symbolizing the beauty and rarity of peace, and the uniqueness of each warrior’s journey.
The top of the lid is adorned with a peace symbol, a memory I have from my childhood in the 60s, where on the nightly news I would see protestors rallying around the symbol and many soldiers in Vietnam with it drawn on their helmets. It is fashioned to suggest a veteran’s burial flag, and the Amethyst Crystal, used for the handle, is known as a sign of peace, left rough cut because peace is not smooth. I wrote the poem on the underside of the lid to echo my view of the sentiments of warriors throughout history—those who arm themselves for battle often do so with the hope that, as a result, peace will ultimately prevail.
In every clash, a prayer concealed,
A wish for calm, for wounds to heal.
Prepare for war, but peace decree,
So peace may be our legacy.
It is intended to serve as a reminder that even in times of conflict, our ultimate goal must be to achieve peace, harmony, and calm.
May this box, "The Warrior's Prayer for Peace," inspire you to find balance in your own life, and to prepare for challenges with the goal of peace. May peace be the legacy we leave to our children and our children’s children.
Little Boxes Series #2
I was inspired to make this box by the many veterans I have had the privilege of getting to know through the organization “Woodworking for Warriors,” a charitable organization dedicated to providing a supportive environment for all veterans, fostering personal development and fellowship through woodworking. As we call it, “Therapy disguised as woodworking.”
With over 300 members, we have veterans who have served in each of the major wars in the past 70-plus years— Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, the War in Iraq, and many other conflicts of our times. What strikes me most is that these warriors are peaceful, caring people who know more than most the costs of being prepared for and fighting in wars. I have grown convinced that it is the warrior, among all others, who is prepared for war but prays for peace—not to save the warrior from battle, but to save mankind from the results of the conflict.
I crafted this box mostly from curly purpleheart with a curly maple bottom. The purpleheart, known for its rich, vibrant hue, signifies strength and resilience, with a nod to the Purple Heart Medal awarded to those warriors injured in conflict. The light-colored curly maple bottom, honed to a bright shine, represents peace, the foundation of what we all must seek. The burnt edges of the square box joints suggest the potential result of not obtaining peace. On the bottom, my Maker’s Mark coin is embedded in pink ivory, a rare and exotic wood, symbolizing the beauty and rarity of peace, and the uniqueness of each warrior’s journey.
The top of the lid is adorned with a peace symbol, a memory I have from my childhood in the 60s, where on the nightly news I would see protestors rallying around the symbol and many soldiers in Vietnam with it drawn on their helmets. It is fashioned to suggest a veteran’s burial flag, and the Amethyst Crystal, used for the handle, is known as a sign of peace, left rough cut because peace is not smooth. I wrote the poem on the underside of the lid to echo my view of the sentiments of warriors throughout history—those who arm themselves for battle often do so with the hope that, as a result, peace will ultimately prevail.
In every clash, a prayer concealed,
A wish for calm, for wounds to heal.
Prepare for war, but peace decree,
So peace may be our legacy.
It is intended to serve as a reminder that even in times of conflict, our ultimate goal must be to achieve peace, harmony, and calm.
May this box, "The Warrior's Prayer for Peace," inspire you to find balance in your own life, and to prepare for challenges with the goal of peace. May peace be the legacy we leave to our children and our children’s children.
Little Boxes Series #2