FFWPU observes the 1,000th day since Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Seonghwa

[Las Vegas = Newsis] On May 30 (local time), Dr. Hak Ja Han is giving the keynote at ‘Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s 1,000-day memorial commemorative service’ held at the International Peace Education Center (IPEC) in Las Vegas, Nevada. (photo credits=Family Federation) 2015-05-31

[Newsis] Family Federation Pledges to Achieve ‘Vision 2020’ as they observe the 1,000th day since Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Seonghwa

With the 1,000-day memorial of Rev Moon’s Seonghwa (1920~2012), the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification has determined to inherit the traditions and legacy of Rev. Moon in order to achieve the goal of ‘Vision 2020’ established by Dr. Hak Ja Han (72).

At 10 am on May 30 (local time), the Family Federation held the 1,000-day memorial for Rev. Moon’s

Seonghwa at the International Peace Education Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Han, International President Sun Jin Moon, special emissaries, regional leaders, current and former American heads of state, Las Vegas commerce and industry leaders, veterans and one thousand other persons participated, as well as 350 participants from Japan.

The commemorative service began with welcoming remarks by Dr. Michael Jenkins, President of USA Family Federation Organizations. This was followed by a representative prayer by Bishop George Augustus Stallings, Chairman of the American Clergy Leaders Association, readings by USA Family Federation Vice President Mari Curry, welcoming remarks by Family Federation North America regional leader Ki-Hoon Kim, and finally congratulatory remarks by Former US Republican Congressman Dan Burton.

The main event was Dr. Han’s special keynote address.

International President Sun Jin Moon introduced Dr. Han, “She is the one who taught us the two expressions ‘thank you’ and ‘I love you’ that can lead us to true salvation and happiness. She is the one who told us that we must live a longer, faster, stronger and more onward life for the sake of others.”

Dr. Han took the stage and said, “Today marks 1,000 days since Rev. Moon’s Seonghwa and is a very significant day.” She told the Family Federation members to look back on Rev. Moon’s lifelong efforts for the sake of world peace and the path, as well as the work that must be done until 2020, which will also mark Rev. Moon’s 100th birthday.

She especially pointed out that “This is a time when the entire world is suffering due to natural disasters. Therefore, now more than ever, we must open the path of hope and life for them. America, in particular, which has developed rapidly, thanks to the Christian realm of culture, should not only pursue their own benefits, but live for the sake of the entire world. Let us all determine and pledge to fulfill our responsibilities to advance the providence of God and realize a one-world family.”

There was also an award ceremony to present special prizes to forty remarkable individuals from North America, Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Middle East, who have demonstrated exemplary efforts in faith and peace activities.

According to the Family Federation, Rev. Moon and Dr. Han first began carrying out peace activities in Las Vegas back in 1965.

At that time, they went on their first world tour, visited America and selected Las Vegas as the fourth holy ground in America.

Following that, Rev. Moon and Dr. Han began full-scale activities in America and completed a 32-city speech tour in March, 1974. At that time, they gave a speech in Las Vegas entitled, “The New Future of Christianity.”

After that, when they embarked on a 44-city speaking tour in July, 1993, they gave a speech at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. Later, when they did a 50-state speaking tour in April, 2001, they also went to Las Vegas and gave a peace speech there entitled, “The Path for America and Humankind in the New Millennium.”

Over 144,000 copies of Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s autobiography As a Peace Loving Citizen, which was published in October, 2009, were distributed in Las Vegas. There was also an advertisement for the biography prominently displayed on a huge billboard near the airport.

In May, 2010, Rev. Moon and Dr. Han’s golden wedding ceremony and Seonghwa festival was held at the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas. The noble lives of leaders who had worked for the sake of world peace, and passed away while doing so, were commemorated.

That is not all. Rev. Moon and Dr. Han taught that eastern and western cultures merge in Las Vegas, and also established Nevada’s very first specialized graduate school, Wongu Medical School, where a graduate program in Oriental Medicine is offered.

[Seoul=Newsis] Rev. Sun Myung Moon of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification giving a peace speech in Las Vegas in November, 2010. (photo credits=Family Federation) 2015-05-31

Las Vegas is also the place where Dr. Han publicly spoke for the first time after Rev. Moon’s Seonghwa on September 3, 2012 (July 17 by the lunar calendar). That year on October 26-27, Dr. Han gave a keynote address before 1,300 members from all regions of America, Japan and Korea who gathered for the “Global Women’s Peace Network” held to commemorate twenty years since the establishment of the Women’s Federation in America.

Following that, Dr. Han held the Dedication Ceremony for the Ocean Providence Headquarters in March and launched the Cranes Club in December, which consists of second generation Blessed families from all over the world who are involved in charity and public activities, while working in their professional fields in society. Both of these events were held in Las Vegas.

More than anything, Rev. Moon’s living wish was to build the IPEC in order to transform the “sin city” of Las Vegas into a “sun city” of spiritual enlightenment and family values, which seeks a philosophy of peace education and true development for humankind. The IPEC was formally realized when Dr. Han dedicated it on May 28. This is the inevitable reason that the 1,000-day memorial for Rev. Moon’s Seonghwa was held in Las Vegas, and furthermore, at the IPEC. There seems to be special significance and meaning in that.

North America regional President Ki-Hoon Kim said in his welcoming remarks, “Let us spread the providence of True Parents to save all of America and the world.” Similarly, through this 1,000-day memorial for Rev. Moon’s Seonghwa, the USA Family Federation plans to focus fully on “Vision 2020.”…