Roots of Peace Grove—California Veterans Home in Yountville, Napa Valley (2011—2021)
PLANTING THE ROOTS OF PEACE IN AFGHANISTAN
On November 11, 2011 (11-11-11), the Roots of Peace Grove was established at the California Veterans Home in Yountville, Napa Valley—the largest Veterans home to over 1500 residents in the United States of America.
A decade ago, six redwood trees were planted with respect to those who died from landmines during the past six wars—World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War and War in Afghanistan. These trees stand strong today, with deeper roots of peace than ever as we honor our Veterans today.
For nearly 25 years, Roots of Peace has worked to turn MINES TO VINES—replacing the scourge of landmines with bountiful vineyards and orchards worldwide. In Afghanistan, we have remained true to our roots and removed over 100,000 landmines/UXO and planted over six (6) million fruit trees in all 34 provinces impacting over 1 million farmers and families. Afghanistan remains the most heavily mined country in the world, yet it is a country 80% dependent upon agriculture for jobs.
But, we must also realize that the last casualty of the Afghanistan war has yet to take place. Four, just as in World War II and Vietnam and other conflicts, deadly land mines and unexploded ordinance which remain buried in the ground, will, in coming months and years, be triggered by innocent civilians inflicting horrendous wounds and taking more lives.
As the War in Afghanistan has now ended on August 31, 2021, there are over 400,000 well trained young Afghan soldiers who have suddenly lost their jobs. The U.S. soldiers spent years training Afghan soldiers to fight the insurgents. Now, with lack of education, these young Afghan commandos are at risk for being recruited by other factions in the region. It is a critical window of time for humanitarian investment in vocational training and agribusiness so that these Afghan soldiers may be trained with shovels—not guns--providing them with dignity and hope to feed their families with licit jobs. If the international community turns a blind eye to this post-war military population, further civil unrest will manifest in the region.
Veterans across the nation have felt the obligation to help Afghan citizens who fought along side of Americans and risked their lives to achieve our humanitarian goals to cultivate peace through agriculture. While America’s longest war is over, Roots of Peace remains deeply committed towards our goal in delivering a ‘Harvest of Hope’ for Afghan farmers and families. Nature does not wait for peace treaties to be signed, and Roots of Peace remains deeply committed towards harvesting fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and spices to be exported and sold among domestic markets to impact the lives of deserving Afghan farmers and families. The harsh Winter months are looming, and we remain deeply committed towards our sacred promise to the Afghans people to help facilitate a bountiful harvest—otherwise, face massive starvation.
As a woman-led CEO of an American non-profit organization working in Afghanistan for over two decades, I stand in solidarity with the deserving Afghan farmers and families on this Veterans Day 2021—in our enduring humanitarian effort to plant the Roots of Peace in Afghanistan for future generations to thrive.
As a mother, I mourn the loss of over 2,400 U.S. military deaths and over 20,000 American service members who were wounded in action during the war. NATO forces lost 1, 144 soldiers, 444 aid workers, 3,846 U.S. contractors, and 72 journalists. And, finally, the loss of over 66,000 Afghan national military and police, as well as 47,245 Afghan civilians. Together as humanity, may we truly turn ‘swords into plowshares’ on these war-torn lands.