Hope

It's huge: 12 feet tall, 20 feet wide. It took eight years and a monumental effort to create.

It's extraordinary and one-of-a-kind.

It was unveiled last Saturday to a large crowd at the Groton-Dunstable Performing Arts Center.

Called the Big Book: Pages for Peace, it is a student-built compilation of letters and photos promoting peace from around the world.

As stunning as the list of authors is, there are even more compelling results of this massive, community project.

While there is a great deal to be learned here, two points beg mention:

First, that fifth-grade teacher and club adviser Betsy Sawyer is what teachers are meant to be. Standing strong, unafraid to take on such a gargantuan project, she has taught eight years of Bookmakers and Dreamers Club members that anything is possible. Want it, work at it, and you will achieve it.

Second, that as we are showered on a daily basis with despair and hopelessness from around the globe, in these young people, in this community, there is hope. There is in these people a vision of peace and a determination to seek it.

So despair not, for the hope of the future is here.

As these young people go out into the world, they will take this lesson with them. In their hearts and minds they will know that peace is attainable and that together, we can achieve it.

We commend these leaders of tomorrow and congratulate them on an outstanding achievement.