Monrovia – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf over the weekend dedicated a bell tower at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Caldwell outside Monrovia that has a cross forged from AK 47 guns that were used by combatants during the civil war to destroy lives and properties in Liberia.
“We have to thank all of you, particularly the peace that has come to this part of the country because we all know what it was known for,” President Sirleaf told a brief ceremony marking the dedication of the bell tower.
The Caldwell community, the military base of the defunct Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), saw the deaths of hundreds of civilian.
Atop its infamy is the place where President Samuel K. Doe was brought and tortured to death when he was captured from the Freeport of Monrovia.
In fact, the guns that were used to forge the cross on the bell tower were buried by combatants during the war and uncovered by residents inside the premises of the church, where the bell tower now stands.
“Today, we hope that all in this community can come to this church and join the Fathers in a word of prayer for our nation,” the President added sitting, with Catholic Archbishop Lewis Zeigler in attendance.
“The fact that today we can say we have 13 consecutive years of peace can only come from the blessings of God.”
The record shows sometimes that nations that come from out of war go back to war in a few years, but we are so thankful that with God’s grace we have been able to do that.”
She had attended the Sunday worship service.
“We feel that the people of this country now know the importance of peace because peace enables you to develop. Peace enables you to achieve your lifelong ambition. Peace enables you to build a family and peace gives you hope.
“We want to thank the citizens of this country for embracing some of the things we stand for, embracing the future because the future actually belongs to us and every one of us to seize the opportunity to do what is necessary so that you move along in unity towards the achievement of our national goals.
Schoolchildren, with their parents and congregants part of the ceremony, entertained the President and entourage with recitations and dramas in English and in French.
A key highlight for the day was a band of students not more than 10 years old, led by a four-year-old schoolgirl, which sang the national anthem of Liberia.
“They are an example of quality education, something that we have not been able to put through our school system,” the President lauded.
“In the midst of francophone countries, many times we find ourselves at the disadvantage because we cannot communicate with our brothers and sisters.”
“These kids are going to be the ones that will lead the way,” she said, lauding the effort of the school’s administration for their way.”
The “Memorial Bell Tower of Peace” in the premises of the Holy Family Catholic Church was initiated by one of its parishioners, Steve Cashin.
The Parish has a library, school and healthcare center.
“This parish is about building men and women for others,” Cashin said.
“We started in a place that was destroyed by human spirit and over the last decade we’ve rebuilt a place to be a community of faith, of social justice of engagement, reaching from faith.”
Cashin thanked President Sirleaf for her leadership that has seen the asphalt pavement of the Caldwell road, to spur movement and development in that community.
“When we first come, we had to come over a very long dusty, bumpy road from the junction here. I would almost half an hour down from the junction.”
“We now have a highway. We have a bustling, bustling community full of people, full of commerce, full of life, full of love, full of liberty.”