Peace Pole erected in Monroeville with mission of inclusion
Each of the 37 languages welded onto the newly installed Peace Pole in Monroeville Community Park West represents the municipality’s rich diversity.
The 12-foot stainless steel pole was delivered June 4 from Cincinnati and erected near the park’s gazebo, just past the main entrance.
On it is the saying “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” along with the word “Peace” in languages from around the globe, including Moravian, Hindi and Russian.
“This is already kind of a peaceful spot where you can take time out of your day to gather your thoughts and enjoy the surroundings,” said Gerry Maynard, incoming president of the Monroeville Rotary.
The group sponsored the seven-sided sculpture, which cost $14,000 and weighs 700 pounds.
First seen in Japan in the 1950s, Peace Poles have skyrocketed in popularity given the antagonistic climate in today’s world. There are more than 250,000 peace monuments installed in nearly 200 countries, according to Monroeville Rotary President Som Sharma.
“It is an internationally recognized symbol of the hopes and dreams of the entire human family,” he said.
Sharma, a member of the Rotary for 40 years, said the project aligns perfectly with the mission of Rotary International, which is peace and conflict resolution. The Rotary is the only service club that has a permanent seat at the U.N., Maynard said.
Locally, Rotary members said the sculpture will promote inclusion for everyone in the municipality’s diversity-rich population.
Dustin Helm, a Rotary member for 11 years, said the group plans to expand the area into a peace garden with flowers, benches and arbors. Community groups, the ministerium and schools will be encouraged to use the space for peace-promoting programs.
At least twice a year, there will be dedicated assemblies, Sharma said. On Sept. 21, the International Day of Peace, the Rotary plans to host an event, along with a separate outing in the spring, maybe near Earth Day.
Artist Joel Selmeier created the towering Peace Pole for the Monroeville park. He stumbled into the profession 20 years ago, Selmeier said, after enrolling as a political science major intent on working at the United Nations.
“I wasn’t trying to figure out how I was going to earn money,” Selmeier said. “I thought that the most important thing I could do for the human race would be to work for peace. Eventually I had to face the fact that I did not belong in politics or in a bureaucracy.”
A friend saw a sculpture that Selmeier was working on and asked if he would submit a proposal for a peace pole.
“I didn’t know what that was but quickly did some research and thought, ‘Yes!”
Today we planted a #PeacePole. “May Peace Prevail on Earth”. pic.twitter.com/3rJ4XcLr52
— Bishop'sLodgeGardens (@BishopsGardens1) May 12, 2021
Over the years, Selmeier has crafted poles from limestone, aluminum and granite.
The stainless steel product took him about 10 weeks to craft. It requires no maintenance from the municipality.
Sharma and Maynard said the botanical garden at the park is the ideal location for the pole. There are ball games being played, picnics, people walking and a constant buzz of activity.
The Rotary is planning a dedication this summer where the entire community will be welcome. There will be booths representing different cultures, food and music.
A date has yet to be set.
“The whole idea is for people to see the Peace Pole and for it to raise awareness,” Sharma said. “We want people to take part in sharing the message.”
Tawnya Panizzi is a TribLive reporter. She joined the Trib in 1997. She can be reached at tpanizzi@triblive.com.
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