They stood quietly in a circle around a white pole inscribed with a message in several languages for the community to ponder.
“May Peace Prevail on Earth.”
Mary Jane Ware, president of Fairfield Glade Rotary Club, told them of the Peace Pole’s significance during its dedication Sept. 23 on the front lawn of Fairfield Glade Community Church. Attending were 19 representatives of the Rotary Club, the church, county government and the community club.
“May it stand as a beacon of hope, reminding us of the power of love, compassion and cooperation,” she said. “Let this pole inspire us to work together towards a world where peace prevails and every individual can live with dignity and respect.”
The local Rotary Club received a Rotary district matching grant for two Peace Pole projects, which align with one of Rotary International’s seven areas of focus: peacebuilding and conflict prevention. The other Peace Pole was installed at the county fairgrounds in Crossville.
The dedications of both Peace Poles were in observance of World Peace Day, which was Sept. 21.
Ware thanked the Fairfield Glade Community Church for allowing the Rotary Club to install the Peace Pole on the church’s grounds.
Rev. Dr. James Janecek, senior pastor, noted that Jesus emphasized peace, started his greetings with “Peace be with you” and is called the Prince of Peace.
Janecek, who retired with his last sermon on Sunday, said peace “starts within our own hearts” and extends to individual relationships, the local community, the state, the nation and the world.
Peace Poles were first created in Japan in 1955 by world peace visionary Masahisa Goi. The International Peace Pole Project estimates there are now more than 200,000 worldwide.
In addition to English, the local Peace Pole is inscribed with the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in American sign language, Cherokee, French, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Polish and Spanish. Peace Poles typically have inscriptions in several languages. There also is a plaque in braille.
Ware credited County Commissioner Colleen Mall, a Fairfield Glade Rotary Club member who heads the club’s grants committee, with being the “behind the scenes force” in obtaining the grant.
She also thanked Kenny and Randy Kerk of Kerk Stone Masonry for providing expertise and labor for the pole’s installation.