COURAGE OF CONSCIENCE AWARDS
Julia Esty and Shelagh Foreman
August 24th

On Sunday August 24th from 10 - 11 A.M. during the Pacifist Sunday Service, The Peace Abbey presented the Courage of Conscience award to two local heroines: Julia Esty and Shelagh Foreman. If you have been around a peace activity in the area in the last 20 years, you have probably seen these two women.

Julie Esty is a retired social worker from Framingham and has been invovled in the peace movement most of her life. She has been active in the Social Action Council of First Parish in Framingham and is co-founder of Working Group to Reduce Military Spending that formed in 1996.

Shelagh Forman is Executive Director of Mass Peace Action and has been on the forefront of peace and justice issues for many years. From Civil Rights to the pro-peace movement, the nuclear freeze to opposition to the Iraq war these women have consistently acted out of their conscience with tremendous courage, often against the mainstream view, to work tirelessly for a better world.

Over 75 people crowded into the Quaker Meeting Room at the Abbey to hear Louise Coleman (award recipient herself) and Activist Carol Coakley speak about Julia and Shelagh and make the formal presentation of the awards. Members of the peace community stood and shared stories about the contributions of both women. The award presentation began with recitation of the names and contributions of past recipients. First Parish Church in Framingham where both women are members announced last week that the Sunday Service would be cancelled and members were encouraged to join in the celebration of the achievements of Julia and Shelagh. The ceremony was testimony to the greatness of spirit and courage of conscience of the movement for peace and justice as exemplified by the life-journey of peacemaking of the award recipients.