Members of the Rotary Club and Coral Bay residents dedicated a symbol of peace in a community space Saturday. The Peace Pole initiative is part of Rotary’s global effort to promote conflict resolution through improved communication.
The event held at Our Place Community Center also provided an opportunity for Rotary to introduce the current and future presidents on St. John. Incoming president Kim Hart is set to take over the leadership role from Jennifer Stone in July.
A procession of about 15 people escorted the pole to its permanent installation near the center’s perimeter fence. Rotary International District Governor Eric Baines traveled to Coral Bay to show his support. Prayers, songs, and poetry were shared as three speakers held paper ribbons attached to the pole.
“This is non-denominational. Everyone needs it, we all need to practice it,” said speaker Celia Kalousek. “We want to inspire residents and visitors alike to engage in peace-building initiatives.”
The first Peace Pole was dedicated in Japan in 1955 as a reminder of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. Other poles appeared in locations outside of Japan in the 1970s and 80s.
There are currently 250,000 poles set up around the world, Kalousek said.
St. Thomas Rotarians installed their first Peace Pole in November 2022 at the Oswald Harris Court Housing Community.
Located near the junction of Rts. 10 and 107, Our Place opened in 2023 as a public meeting space. It has hosted gatherings of the Coral Bay Community Council, clothing swap events, and yoga lessons. It also features a small library, playground equipment, and a parking area.