(13 May 2009)
The Oklahoma
City National Memorial & Museum honor Father Alex Reid for his work
engaging groups to make lasting peace in Northern Ireland with the 2009
Reflections of Hope Award®, an annual award honoring a person or organization making a difference in the midst of political chaos.
Father Reid
was being honored for his life's work in the peace process in Northern
Ireland. His work was long term and behind the scenes. He brought to
the Irish conflict two very important recognitions: (1) in order to
have the space to initiate a peace process, you have to stop the
atrocities being committed by both sides and (2) success in any peace
process requires inclusion of all parties who speak for recognized
clientele. His behind-the-scenes work was the thread of communication
among groups that brought peace to this troubled land.
'I am honoured to receive this award" Father Reid said from Dublin, Ireland. "I look forward to being in Oklahoma City to accept this award and am delighted to have the opportunity to see the Memorial and the Museum."
Father Alec Reid
was honored for his life’s work in the peace process in Northern
Ireland.
The
Reflections of Hope Award®, established in 2005 as part of the 10th
anniversary commemoration of the Oklahoma City bombing, honours a
living person or currently-active organization whose conduct
exemplifies in an extraordinary fashion two core beliefs of the
Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation: that hope can survive and
blossom amidst the tragedy and chaos of political violence and that,
even in environments marred by such violence, peaceful, nonviolent
approaches provide the best answers to human problems.
This short video produced by the Oklahoma City National
Memorial foundation shows his visit and his reflections on the Northern
Ireland troubles and the Oklahoma bombing.