A Symbol of Global Unity and Peace
Last October, a group of Bethany Village residents and members of the Mechanicsburg North Rotary Club (RCMN), met with Brian Grundusky, Executive Director of Bethany Village, to discuss a meaningful service project: placing a Peace Pole at Bethany Village. The project was a result of our Rotary District’s commitment to Peace Building as reflected by our designation as a Peace Builder district. Peace and Conflict Resolution is one of seven focus areas of Rotary.
What is a Peace Pole?
The Peace Pole Project began with Masahisa Goi, a Japanese man who, after witnessing the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, dedicated his life to promoting global peace. In the 1970s, he and his friends began placing poles with the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth" across Japan. By 1986, the project expanded to the United States and Europe, and today there are over 250,000 Peace Poles worldwide.
How the Project Came Together
After presenting the idea to Brian and receiving his approval, a committee made up of residents, associates, and Rotarians was formed to bring the project to life. The committee worked diligently, presenting the proposal to the Resident Council, our club, and the Bethany Management Team. The decision was made to place two Peace Poles—one on each side of the campus—near the main building entrances. These poles will display the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in eight different languages. The languages were chosen based on input from the Bethany Village Belonging Council who selected languages that best represent the Bethany Community.
- Eastside: English, German, Hebrew, Arabic, Mandarin, Hindi, Japanese, and Polish.
- Westside: English, French, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog (Philippines), Ukrainian, Vietnamese, and Lenape Native American.
Each pole will also include a Braille plate, as well as the Rotary and Bethany Village logos.
Join Us for the Dedication Ceremony!
We are excited to invite you to the dedication of both Peace Poles on Thursday, April 24th, from 11:00 – 11:30 AM
- East Campus: In front of Door 1 by flag poles. (See “B” on map.*)
- West Campus: Between Door 1 and Door 62 by flag poles (See “F” on map.*)
The dedication ceremony will be followed by a reception at the East Campus Richard Rife Center from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. (See “J” on map.*)
Map: *Campus Map: CLICK HERE
RSVP to Kayla Shirk at kshirk@asbury.org – 717-591-8039.
Join us as we reflect on the power of peace and make a meaningful impact!
