2009 Candlelight Vigil April 14, 2009

April 10-12, 2009 marks the sixth anniversary of the tragic ransacking of the Iraq Museum in Baghdad. On April 10- 12, 2003, countless invaluable works of art and artifacts were systematically stolen from the Museum and many remain missing today. Recently, the Iraq Museum reopened seven of its galleries. While this has been seen by some as a success story, serious concerns remain about the security of the objects and the destruction of archaeological sites in Iraq and all over the world continues. So it is on April 10- 12 that we will come together to acknowledge our stewardship and responsibility in protecting those artifacts and sites that are part of our global cultural heritage.

This year the Mead Art Museum is co-sponsoring the event with the Iraqi Children's Art exchange (http://www.iraqichildrensart.org). We will have an exhibition of artwork made by Iraqi children, a guided tour of the Mead Art Museum's Antiquities gallery, and also a lighting of commemoration candles.
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On April 10- 12, 2007, SAFE organized its first global candlelight vigil to commemorate the tragic events of April 2003 and help raise awareness of the need for action to protect the cultural heritage. Individuals, schools, universities, museums, and groups around the world participated. In April 2008 the vigil became an annual event.

We invite the Facebook community and all others to join us this year by hosting vigils in your local areas. Hosting a vigil is easy, and our downloadable step-by-step vigil tools (http://savingantiquities.org/vigiltools.php) will help you to plan, publicize, and record your vigil. Once your vigil has been registered, it will be listed on our website so that others will see it and may attend. Together, we can fight to keep our past for our future.

For more information please visit our website at http://savingantiquities.org/candlelightvigils.php.

To host a vigil in your area, register with us at http://savingantiquities.org/hostvigil.php.

If interested in attending a vigil, find a location near you at http://savingantiquities.org/attendvigil.php.

Also, be sure to light a virtual candle and add your name to the list of supporters here http://savingantiquities.org/virtualcandle.php.

We have not forgotten. Light a candle with us.

Official Website: http://savingantiquities.org/attendvigil.php