Light Up the Night

“We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light a candle that can guide us through the darkness to a safe and sure future.” – John F. Kennedy, 1960

Our nation has a long history of placing a candle, flag, or other object in our windows to signify national solidarity. Dating back to colonial times, candles in the window signaled a welcome to travelers; during the Civil War, it was a beacon to war-weary sons to find their ways home. Still today, families of servicemembers hang blue or gold star flags to signify their loved ones are far from home. In 2001, community members hung American flags of all sizes from their windows, doors, and flagpoles to come together after incredible tragedy.

The Brick Store Museum’s mission is to be the spark that ignites personal connections to local history, art and culture.  In this new era of a national pandemic, we invite you to join us in a simple project that will bring light to our entire community.

Essential workers – health care workers, grocers, first responders, child care workers, utility technicians, school staff, custodians, truck drivers, defense personnel, and so many more – are putting themselves at risk to protect, serve and provide for our community and our nation.

Let’s thank them.

For those at home: It’s okay to feel scared, isolated, sad, angry or confused. One of the most important things history can do is to help us recognize we are a part of something greater than ourselves – that none of us are alone in our experiences. We can join together and do something to increase the moral of our entire community.

Let’s stand together.

Light a (electric-powered) candle, string light, lamp, or any kind of light in your window each evening at dusk, starting now through the end of this pandemic. Let’s all come together over our thanks – and show what community is all about. Whether you are on the front lines to serve or staying home to slow the spread: we are in this together – and we’ll see it through to the end.

Let’s LIGHT UP THE NIGHT!

[ Share your photos of your own window light, or lights that you see across our community, via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Tag the @BrickStoreMuseum, and include the hashtag: #lightupthenight ]