The War Childhood Museum’s collection is built on the voices and experiences of those who have shared their stories and objects. Through a series of interviews with collection contributors, we explore what the museum means to them and what inspired them to donate an object to the WCM.
Lina G. Tahan, one of the contributors, decided to donate the Miraculous Medal that she wore during her childhood in Beirut, Lebanon, during the Civil War (1975-1990).
Tahan is an archaeologist, university lecturer, and affiliated scholar at the Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge. She specialises in representing archaeology in museums, particularly in Lebanon, and its impact on identity. As Chair of the International Committee on Ethical Dilemmas (ICETHICS) of ICOM, Tahan is also a dedicated museum activist, inspiring youth and educators to engage with museums as spaces for learning and connection.
In the interview, Tahan talks about the medal, its role in providing her with comfort and protection, and how it has become a symbol of resilience, faith, tolerance and acceptance.
The Miraculous Medal
In sixth grade, my history teacher told us the story of the Virgin Mary’s apparition to Sister Catherine Labouré in Paris. The Virgin gave Catherine clear instructions on how to mint the medal and told her that whoever wore it around their neck would be protected. At that time, my home city, Beirut, was gripped by civil war.
Believing in the medal’s protective power, I went home and asked my mom for one. She eventually found this silver version and gifted it to me. I have worn it ever since. It has been with me through countless escapes to the shelter, days of missed school, and the loss of many typical teenage experiences.
Over the years, I have gifted many more Miraculous Medals to my friends and family, but this first medal stayed with me as a symbol of faith, hope, and resilience. Now, it finds a new home at the War Childhood Museum.
Lina, b. 1976 (Lebanon)
You donated to the Museum a very important personal object to our collection – the Miraculous Medal. Why did you choose to donate this particular object?
The Miraculous Medal I donated to the Museum is very special to me. As a teenager, I wore it around my neck during the war in Lebanon, and it provided me with a sense of protection when the bombs were falling. It has always been a special memento and a way to pray during difficult times. That’s why I decided to donate it to the War Childhood Museum.
What role did the medal have while you were a child in Beirut?
I remember living in East Beirut. At the time, the city was divided into two parts: East and West. I knew that when the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Catherine Labouré, she promised that anyone who wore the medal around their neck would be protected from any harm. I truly believed this, and I trusted that what we call God’s providence would keep me safe.
Later, I came to realize that many Muslims in my country also believed in the Virgin Mary and venerated her in their way. For me, it was a symbol of resilience and protection, as well as acceptance of others. It was also a source of joy and calm that comes from prayer and a way to cope with the isolation I felt while unable to play outside.
What do you hope visitors to the exhibition will take away from your story?
I know that the Museum has many stories such as this one, of children with similar experiences – stories about something they took with them from their wartime home. I couldn’t take my toys. Many times, I had to leave my bed quite quickly and run to the shelter. When I returned, my bedroom was often unrecognizable because of all the little bullet marks. This medal symbolises my ability to overcome this experience. I hope that the visitors will learn that in times of deep trouble or when we are feeling down, praying, seeking God’s help and refuge, or reading a psalm can be important.
Now, as you know, my country is at war again. I think about Lebanon almost every day, and sometimes it keeps me from sleeping, mainly because my parents are still there, and the situation is extremely difficult. It seems that children today are experiencing the same things that I have experienced as a child. I find it incredibly sad that we are still discussing the same things.
The medal is a way to share my story – not just through the object but also through what it says about who I am. It reflects how I have become more tolerant, resilient, and accepting of others.
You are deeply involved in museum work and museum studies. What do initiatives like the War Childhood Museum mean to you?
They are essential to me. As a child, I never had the opportunity to visit a museum. I was 19 when I first visited one, which was quite late. This is because museums remained closed for a long time due to the Civil War.
The first time I visited a museum was when I went to university. It was the Archaeological Museum of the American University of Beirut. I became so embedded in the museum work and what it entails. Museums became a fascinating world for me, one that felt unattainable to me as a child. Now, I can’t tell you how many museums I visit yearly – it is something I genuinely enjoy. This is why I am so passionate about children visiting museums. For me, a museum is like an open book that tells you about other people’s stories, whether through art, archaeology, ethnography or the stories of children who have experienced war, like those at the War Childhood Museum. They serve as a mirror to a nation, and we should use them as a toolkit and as vehicles for peace.
This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.
