"Children of a Common Mother" is a musical labor of loved composed by Christina Alexander. Christina has performed the song at numerous official events and gatherings in the international park and across the pacific northwest include the opening of the Washington State Legislature,
2007 Folklife Festival. Internationally at the Peace, Parks & Partnerships Conference in Calgary Alberta, Universal Forums of Cultures in Barcelona, Spain, and the World Culture Open in Seoul, South Korea.
Christina says: "Over the years of coordinating events in the park at which the U.S. anthem and Canadian anthem were performed, I was always left feeling we needed a song to join us together. Standing under the Peace Arch, we were either participating in something Canadian or something American. I felt we needed something to bind us together, something to speak to what we have in common, something that we could share with the world."
In 1999, the US and Canadian governments announced plans to drastically reduce the size of the Peace Arch Park and that provided the impetus Christina needed to create an international unity anthem "Children of a Common Mother." While the song lyric were beautiful and honored the Peace Arch and it's founders the song felt a little incomplete to Christina.
Immediately following the terrorists' attacks on September 11, 2001, when watching the outpouring of Canadian support for the families and victims Christina was inspired to write the songs bridge:
" Canadian & Americans are Free / To Show the World There Strong Diversity/ Dwelling in Unity / Canadians and American's are Free.
"The songs peaceful but patriotic message was then complete."
The USCPAA held an International Peace and Unity Vigil 5 days after
the attacks. The vigil was an event Christina & the USCPAA Board never imagined they would coordinate. Christina states,"There was so much uncertainty, we did not know how the public would react. I opened the
vigil singing the Peace Arch Anthem. Our (USCPAA) hope was that the song would set the tone of the vigil and remind everyone in attendance that we were under the Peace Arch and that peace was what we all wanted and needed."
Later that fall she professionally recorded the anthem at Marpole Recording Studio in Langley, BC, Canada and released it as a limited edition single CD.
Currently Christina is creating a choral arrangement of "Children of Common Mother." A concert band score was created by Victor Veltcamp of the North Cascades Concert Band. The concert arrangement of the song debuted at the Sunset, Sculptures & Serenades Concert in Blaine, WA, on July 24, 2004.
To learn more about USCPAA, Founder, Christina Alexander visit:
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Letters of support and appreciation:
Doug Erickson, Washington State Representative
Val Meredith, Member of Parliament
Roger Simmons, Canadian Consulate General
