Run For Peace on Veterans Day

Please note that the Run For Peace has been cancelled.

​To commemorate the centennial of the United States’s involvement in World War I and to recognize our veterans, the Edith Bolling Wilson Museum will host a Run for Peace on November 11, 2017.

One hundred years ago, while Edith Bolling Wilson was serving as First Lady, the United States entered World War I. Edith Bolling Wilson promoted her husband’s vision for peace, set an example for homefront conservation movements, and supported Allied troops. Through this work, Edith Bolling Wilson became the mother of modern First Ladies as she focused more on politics and social issues rather than serving as a traditional White House hostess.

The Run for Peace is a part of the museum's programming for the current exhibition “World War I: From Wytheville to the White House... and Abroad,” which focuses on the leadership and contributions of First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson during the war.

The Run for Peace 5K Run/Walk will be held in Rural Retreat, Virginia at 9:00 am starting at the Emergency Services Building, adjacent to the Rural Retreat Wall of Honor. The event is open to all ages. Veterans will receive free registration and will be recognized for their service during a short program after the race. President and Mrs. Wilson, portrayed by Jim Gearhart and Betsy Ely, will be special guests and will greet runners as they cross the finish line.

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11th as a holiday to commemorate the Armistice signed the year before. Wilson stated: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations." Today, Veterans Day honors all of those who served in the Armed Forces.

The Run for Peace supports the Edith Bolling Wilson Museum’s educational programs and future restoration of the Bolling Home. Registration is open to the public. For more information or to register, visit edithbollingwilson.org/runforpeace.

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