“Today is a meaningful opportunity for us to come together in celebration of peace, unity and the strength of community,” Goodrich ISD Superintendent Daniel Barton said during a ceremony held Wednesday to dedicate the new Goodrich Hornet Peace Garden and Peace Pole.
The ceremony also recognized the collaborative efforts of the Livingston Rotary Club, Goodrich ISD students and faculty, Lowe’s Home Improvement Center and Lee Blau LL Contractors.
“This project represents more than a garden or a marker on our campus. It stands as a lasting symbol of hope and a shared commitment to kindness, understanding and respect for one another. We believe our schools should be places where students feel safe, valued and inspired. May this peace pole serve as a daily reminder to our students and community that peace begins with each of us,” Barton said, expressing his appreciation to the project collaborators.
Rotary Club President Bev Reed shared the vision and importance behind the service club’s newest community initiative.
“This school is where the future grows. You nurture the minds and hearts of the next generation. By placing a peace pole garden on this campus, we are planting more than a pole and a sign – we are planting values. We are teaching that peace is not just an abstract ideal discussed in textbooks. It is a living principle, woven into our daily interactions, our choices and our relationships,” Reed said.
“This initiative aligns with Rotary’s dedication to peacebuilding and conflict prevention. By engaging students, faculty and community members in the creation and care of the garden, we foster a culture of stewardship and collaboration. The process itself becomes an opportunity for service, leadership and mutual understanding. In nurturing the garden, we nurture each other – building bridges, breaking down barriers and sowing seeds of harmony that will flourish for years to come,” Reed said.
“The peace pole serves as a constant reminder that despite our differences – whether cultural religious or ideological – we share a common dream for a peaceful world. The garden surrounding the pole will offer a quiet space for reflection, learning and dialogue,” Reed said.
The peace pole bears the inscription “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in eight different languages – English, Spanish, French, Alabama-Coushatta, German, Chinese, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Plans are underway to install and dedicate additional peace poles in the Livingston and Onalaska school districts in the near future.
Also speaking during the ceremony were Goodrich Counselor Kari Rhodes and eighth-grader Joselyn Reyes, who each spoke on the importance of peace. The ceremony concluded with a moment of silence to either recognize, or pray for, peace.
