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Honoring Sacred Space Campaign

 Presidio Chapel Restoration

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McDONALD PEACE WINDOWS

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“You don’t understand what it’s like to be walking through desolation with no one else there. It was my first experience at how obliterating war can be to the efforts of mankind…..There was glass everywhere and I picked up quite a number of these broken pieces that were deeply smoked by the explosion of the bombs. I put them away and then mailed them home. The shards represented something deep that you ought to remember about this. It’s so often a little thing that can bring back a flood or memories into your head.” Reverend F. A. McDonald

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Omar Bradley, US Army General
Since 2010, the Interfaith Center of the Presidio has been the home of the remarkable McDonald Peace Windows – shards of stained glass collected from bombed-out European cathedrals, synagogues, and chapels during World War II by Chaplain Fred McDonald, Staff Chaplain to General of the Army Omar Bradley, who commanded American soldiers in the liberation of Paris and the Battle of the Bulge.  While looking for sanctuaries to hold services for his troops in 1944-1945, Rev. McDonald, an Episcopal Priest, visited many bombed out chapels, cathedrals, and synagogues.  At each location, he picked up shards of stained glass and saved them for 50 years. Before his death, he gave the shards to glass artists to make windows and other works of art. 

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Chaplain McDonald’s family commissioned 13 artists to create what are now known as the “McDonald Windows”, a collection of stained glass windows and other glass art pieces, representing a universal hope for peace. In 1999, the Interfaith Center at the Presidio was given 25 stained-glass pieces that have occupied the west wing of the Chapel and been curated for traveling exhibitions. Since 2007, The McDonald Windows have been shown in the United States and in Europe, including being designated as a Smithsonian traveling exhibit. In addition to being works of glass art of exceptional quality, these windows represent the ability to make peace and art out of war.  


In Remembrance of V-E Day (Victory in Europe) – Homily by U.S. Army Chaplain Frederick A. McDonald for the Allied High Command May 8, 1945.
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Chaplain McDonald, while looking for sanctuaries to hold services for his troops in 1944-1945, picked up shards of stained glass which have been turned into 25 stained glass pieces known as the “McDonald Peace Windows”. The Interfaith Center at the Presidio is the future permanent home of these works of glass art which represent the ability to make peace and art out of war.
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In Remembrance of V-J Day (Victory over Japan) – August 14, 1945 (Japan) and August 15, 2020 (United States) and September 2, 1945 (surrender document signed).
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Koko Kondo was an infant when the 1st atomic bomb hit her home city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.
Click here to read more


In the Press: 

Interfaith Center exhibition of 25 contemporary stained glass windows from WWII fragments opens August 27 at War Memorial Veteran's building in San Francisco
Scott Horton Communications, July 14, 2022

Broken pieces of war-shattered stained glass repurposed in San Francisco (mercurynews.com)
Mercury News, August 26, 2022

Presidio’s Interfaith Center Stages “Remembered Light” Exhibit – Paul Duclos' Cultural Currents (duclosculturalcurrents.com)
Paul Duclos Cultural Events, July 20, 2022

​"Wie ein zerbrochenes Kirchenfenster zu einem Kunstwerk für den Frieden wurde" (Translation: "How a broken church window became a work of art for peace") - Domsteinchen (German Blog) October 18, 2020 
​[To read in English, click here]

"Remembered Light: Glass Fragments from World War Two" (Video)
 WGNO, ABC  November 26, 2019

“Art Connection: Of Light and Peace” (Video)
Produced by KUEN in Salt Lake City, Utah, and broadcast on 22 TV stations on August 11, 2019

"A WWII chaplain collected glass shards from destroyed European churches. They’ve been transformed into art on display in Salt Lake City."
The Salt Lake Tribune​, November 4, 2018
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“Bunte Glasscherben erzählen” (PDF)
Aachener Zeitung / Aachener Nachrichten, April 20, 2013

“Of War and Religion, Light and Memory”
The Pennsylvania Gazette, April 24, 2008

“Salvage and salvation: Stained glass shards from WWII debris return in Penn exhibit"
The Morning Call, April 24, 2008

“Pieces from war now art for peace” (PDF)
The Seattle Times, January 10, 2008
KQED San Francisco / NPR
January 24, 2007
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“From war, symbols of faith” (PDF)
The Washington Post, November 12, 2005
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“Bits of glass from bombed churches in WWII get new life in 'Peace Windows'” (PDF)
The Seattle Times, November 6, 2005


Exhibitions: 

Veterans Building, Veterans Gallery
401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
August 27 - December 23, 2022
https://alwmcsf.org/gallery

​The National World War II Museum
New Orleans, Louisiana
November 21, 2019 – December 27, 2020
• Special Exhibit Introduction
• Join us for the opening! November 21, 3–5pm: details

Walker Center
Salt Lake City, Utah
October 17 - November 17, 2018

Parliament of the World's Religions
Salt Lake City, Utah
October 15 - 19, 2015

Rochester Institute of Technology
Memorial Art Gallery
Rochester, New York
October 9 - December 29, 2013

SullivanMunce Cultural Center
Zionsville, Indiana
June 24, 2011 – Memorial Day 2012
Exhibit Gallery
(Gallery hosted by The Indianapolis Star)

Arthur Ross Gallery
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
March 29 – June 15, 2008
Extended till July 6, 2008
Exhibit Gallery

Washington State History Museum
Tacoma, Washington
January 12 – March 2, 2008
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Officers’ Club, Presidio, San Francisco
January 24 – April 15, 2007
Exhibit Gallery

Photographs of the McDonald Windows have been exhibited in Germany at the following locations:

Erholungsgesellschaft in Aachen (Social Club of Aachen founded in 1837) - 2014
Kloster Steinfeld/Eifel (boarding school) - 2015
Stadtbibliothek Aachen (Public Library of Aachen) - 2016
Museum "Huertgenwald 1944 und im Frieden (the Museum of Peace in Huertgenwald Forest) - 2016
Ringhotel Haus Oberwinter in Remagen (hotel near the Bridge of Remagen) - 2017
Roncalli-Haus in Magdeburg (Academy of the Catholic Diocese of Magdeburg) - 2018
130 Fisher Loop
San Francisco, CA 94129

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