Peace Pole to be dedicated in honor of Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick

Valley Rotarians will hold a special dedication ceremony 3 p.m. Saturday at Monessen City Park.

For the MVI

A Peace Pole bearing the universal message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” will be dedicated in Monessen City Park this weekend.

A special ceremony, hosted by Rotary Clubs in the Mon Valley along with other Rotarians, will start at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Peace Poles serve as global symbols of hope, compassion, and unity. The message inscribed on each pole — a prayer for peace in multiple languages — was first introduced in 1955 by Masahisa Goi of Japan in response to the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Since then, more than 250,000 Peace Poles have been installed in communities across the world.

Rotary International President Dr. Stephanie Urchick, a Monessen native, selected her hometown as the site for a personalized Peace Pole donated by the Jubitz Family Foundation, reflecting her call for global peace initiatives.

The dedication ceremony will include participation from local veterans, clergy, students, Scouts, Interact members and civic leaders.

Highlights will include a wreath presentation, a rock garden of peace messages created by Monessen students, a candle-lighting ceremony led by local youth groups, a musical performance Rotary Exchange student Angela Huang, and brief reflections on peace.

“The public is warmly invited to attend this meaningful event and join in celebrating Rotary’s global message of unity and goodwill,” according to a press release. “Together, we can be conductors of peace — locally and globally.”