Scout Zachary Tiberio reads as Webelo Wyatt Cline transfers the Peace Light flame to a candle held by co-owner of the JMJ Spiritual Connection Store, Dorajean Havrilla. Submitted photo

YOUNGSTOWN — The International Peace Light arrived in the Mahoning Valley and residents may visit the continuous flame from Bethlehem through Jan. 8.

Members of Cub Scout Pack and Boy Scout Troop 9022 from St. Christine Parish participated Thursday afternoon in a transfer ceremony of the light to the JMJ Spiritual Connection store, 3434 Canfield Road in Cornersburg.

For more than 30 years, the Peace Light from Bethlehem has been spread throughout Europe with the cooperation of the Austrian Broadcasting Company — ORF (Linz), Austrian Airlines and the Austrian Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. Beginning in 2000, it has been flown to the United States and was taken to Ground Zero in New York in 2002.

Due to COVID-19 and travel restrictions in the United States and in Europe, the 2021 International Peace Light from Bethlehem cannot be flown to the United States. But many Scouters across the Great Trail Council and Northeast Ohio have maintained the International Peace Light — keeping vigil over the flame throughout the years since 2015.

The Peace Light is a continuous flame said to originate from Bethlehem. It is placed in two blast proof miners’ lamps and flown from Tel Aviv, Israel to Vienna, Austria, where it is distributed to 20 European countries as a symbol of peace.

The JMJ Spiritual Connection store, 3434 Canfield Road in Cornersburg, will be hosting the light through Jan. 8 during normal business hours. Anyone wishing to receive fire from the flame should bring a wind proof candle or lantern.

The Great Trail Council is looking for additional locations to host the Peace Light to make it available to more people in the community. To offer to host the Peace Light, contact Mike Kupec at 330-519-3988 and mike.kupec@gmail.com, or Bob Granchie at bobgranchie@sbcglobal.net.