Rotary of Morganton to plant 'peace pole' June 19

When Rotary International president Stephanie Urchick encouraged district governors around the world to “help heal a divided world” during Rotary year 2024-25, Western North Carolina District 7670 Governor Connie Molland challenged area Rotary clubs to live up to that directive by installing a peace pole.

A peace pole is a monument that displays the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in the language of the country where it has been placed, and usually with additional translations.

It was District 7670’s goal to plant 50 peace poles in Western North Carolina during the 2024-25 Rotary year. Sixteen clubs accepted the challenge, including the Rotary Club of Morganton.

The idea of peace poles originated in 1955 by Masahisa Goi, from Japan, with the first ones being installed in the 1980s. Since then, hundreds of thousands have been placed around the world, in close to 200 countries. Peace poles are made of many materials. Most are made of wood, while others are crafted from limestone, copper, plastic, or stainless steel. The text might be painted, carved, etched, welded, pasted or riveted on, or it might simply be a plastic plaque attached with screws. In other cases, it is the careful work of an artist or sculptor.

Clubs could apply for grants up to $250 to help offset costs. Rotary Club of Morganton member Scott Brooks, a woodworking hobbyist, created the club’s peace pole using a timber left over from the Burke Arts Council’s 2022 renovation. He carved the Rotary seal into it as well as the message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth” on four sides: one side in English and the other sides in Hmong, Guatemalan, and Aquateco (otherwise known as Awakatek, Coyotin, Chalchitec, Balamiha, or natively as Qa’yol — a Mayan language spoken in Guatemala, primarily in Huehuetenango and around Aguacatán). These languages are representative of the tongues spoken most frequently in Morganton.

The Rotary Club of Morganton’s peace pole will be planted in the front yard of Burke Arts Council, a treasured Morganton organization currently being run by Deborah Jones, a Rotary Club of Morganton member. A dedication ceremony will take place during the Thursday, June 19, summer Art Crawl. The public is invited to join representatives of Rotary District 7670 and the Rotary Club of Morganton for the 5:30 p.m. unveiling, presided by Club president Kim Van Sickler presided. BAC is at 506 S. Sterling St. in Morganton.