I’ve chosen to describe my mom’s 1960s anti-war pin. It typically resides in a jewelry box in my mom’s closet, making a few appearances over the years (notably for “hippie day” during my 7th grade spirit week and this honors seminar).

The rectangular pin is roughly the length of my palm  and about half the width. Turned to its side, the pin is slim–less than half an inch wide–yet it feels dense and rather substantial when held in one’s hand.  

It was made from what I assume to be a single sheet of thin metal (perhaps aluminum), with a sharp needle and coil (the actual “pin” ) attached to the back. The front of the pin reads “war is not healthy for children and other living things”–a popular anti-war slogan at the time–in a bubble letter font. A flower doodle snakes between the letters, breaking up the phrase “for children” and “and other”. The colors–yellow for the background, black for the lettering and green, orange, blue, and white for the flower–are surprisingly vibrant despite the pin’s age.

I estimate the pin to be about 50 years old, yet it remains in exceptionally good condition (likely from spending the majority of its lifetime in my mother’s jewelry box). There are no scuff marks on the front, albeit a slight paint smudge towards the upper right side of the flower. The bottom of the front side of the pin has a hint of rust; this is more visible around the upper edges of its opposite side. Turned to the right side, I’m able to detect the slightest hint of chipped paint in the upper and lower corners. The backside of the pin is a bit tarnished (to be expected after nearly half a century)–but still manages to maintain a bit of shine.

My mom grew up with two half-brothers who were much older than her. Both voluntarily enlisted in the military despite being vehemently against the war, as they considered the draft relatively unavoidable and would rather have some semblance of control over their decisions to serve. My mom’s eldest brother, Neil, gifted her this pin before his deployment as a reminder to hold strong in their family beliefs. This object has taken on a few different meanings over the years. My mom was about 9 when she first received the pin and cites this as the beginning of her interest in activism–which later blossomed into serious involvement with social justice throughout her early adulthood. Sadly, my uncle Neil was killed in a car accident roughly three years later; thus the pin now has a much greater significance for my mom. For me, the pin is a piece of my family history. It allows me to feel connected to my late uncle who I never had the chance to meet, and offers a glimpse into my mom’s childhood. It also helps me feel closer to my mom, who sparked my passion for activism and social justice–in this way I suppose I’m able to better understand myself.