“It is a privilege to stand before you today as president of our Rotary Club, to share the vision and importance behind our newest community initiative – the Onalaska Peace Pole Garden, placed on the grounds of this beautiful school campus,” Bev Reed, president of the Rotary Club of Livingston, said during a ceremony held Monday to dedicate the new Onalaska Peace Pole Garden. “This is a testament of what can be achieved when we work together and unite for a common purpose.
“For Rotary, peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, equality and respect. Rotarians believe peace can be built through education, dialogue and community service. In fact, our Rotary motto is Service Above Self. We 1.5 million Rotarians around the world commit to this promise in our daily lives,” Reed said.
“Why a peace pole garden, and why at this school? This school is where our future grows. 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. You students have helped plant the seeds of peace, encouraging young minds how to make a positive difference in the world,” Reed said.
“This garden is the collective effort of many hands and hearts that deserve thanks – our local Livingston Rotary Club, Rotary District 5910 and Rotary International for funding the project. Our passionate teachers and our creative students stepped up, making it a joy to work together on this garden. We especially want to thank Rotarian Lee Blau with LL Contractors for heading up this project and the generous donation of materials by our Livingston Lowe’s Home Improvement Store. Thank you Lee and Katie,” Reed said.
“This initiative aligns with Rotary’s dedication to peacebuilding and conflict prevention. The process itself becomes an opportunity for service, leadership, and mutual understanding. In nurturing this garden, we nurture each other – building bridges, breaking down barriers, and sowing seeds of harmony that will flourish for years to come. This 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. Let this garden be a place where students, teachers and visitors can pause, reflect and commit to creating a world where peace prevails, not just in words, but in action,” 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. A peace pole garden was dedicated on the Goodrich ISD campus on April 22 and one will be dedicated on the Livingston High School campus on May 8.
