Rotary Club of Belle Vernon Area dedicates peace pole

A Peace Pole is a monument that displays the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth.”

For the MVI

Brian Sokol, district director for state Rep. Eric Davanzo spoke at the peace pole dedication in North Belle Vernon.

The Rotary Club of Belle Vernon Area recently dedicated a peace pole at the corner of Fayette Street and Broad Avenue in North Belle Vernon.

The peace pole is an internationally recognized symbol of mankind’s hopes and dreams for peace on earth. The phrase “May Peace Prevail on Earth” is prominent on one side of the pole with the word “Peace” written in 12 other languages on the remaining three sides.

This pole incorporates the prominent languages spoken by the area founders: Italian, Polish, German and Slovak with the added languages spoken by students and residents today: Spanish, Nepali, Chinese, Russian, Creole/ Pidgin, Filipino, Indian and Vietnamese.

Club President Debby Puglia gave the welcome and asked all veterans to lead in the flag pledge as Boy Scouts from Troop 1543 presented our nation’s flag.

Rotarians Fred Foster, Sam Cover, Ed Stasko and Fred Exley unveiled the peace pole.

Reese Gardner, a Belle Vernon Area Middle School eighth-grade student, sang the Star Spangled Banner and received a well-deserved round of applause.

The Rev. Anthony A. Onoko of St. Sebastian Parish blessed the pole and all those gathered. He spoke about his hope that the pole will bring peace to everyone who walks or drives by.

A wreath was placed around the pole by club Vice President Chris Giannamore. Kristy Ochs sang “Let There be Peace on Earth.”

Brian Sokol, district director for state Rep. Eric Davanzo, spoke about the peace pole and thanked the club for its many community works. North Belle Vernon Borough Councilwoman Karen Jones spoke on behalf of the mayor and council in expressing their appreciation for the peace pole.

Puglia expressed the club’s thanks to St. Sebastian Church for permitting the peace pole to be placed on its lot and to Walt Knapp and the North Belle Vernon public works crew for installing the pole. Additional peace poles will be dedicated in the coming months.