St. Joe/Benton Harbor Rotary holds ribbon-cutting ceremony for new 'Peace Pole'

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- This morning in Benton Harbor, members of the St. Joseph and Benton Harbor Rotary Club held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a 'Peace Pole' on the riverbank. 

According to the website worldpeace.org, the Peace Pole Project is a global movement meant to spread the message 'May Peace Prevail on Earth.' 

'Peace Poles act as beacons of hope, inspiring people to come together and work towards a more peaceful world. Planting a Peace Pole often involves ceremonies and community events, fostering unity and a shared spirit of goodwill.

From city parks and schools to places of worship, businesses, and private gardens, Peace Poles are installed in various locations, spreading the universal message of peace on earth. Planting a Peace Pole connects your community with others around the world who have also planted them in the spirit of peace.'

St. Joseph and Benton Harbor Rotary Club President Renee Borah told us, "It was established in 1955. It's an international project. There are more than 250,000 peace poles all around the world, and we get to bring one here, so people can walk by and you know, remember to bring peace into their communities."

The ribbon-ceremony was only one of the events kicking off the Rotarians' annual District Conference.

"It's a conference for our rotary district, so Rotarians ... from all over are coming. We have two days, we have some keynote speakers, and fun activities, or ride the carousel and do some things around town and introduce some Rotarians from all over to come and experience St Joseph," said Borah.

She continued "Rotary is an International Organization of business professionals and people in the community who come together for a common good. We (work toward) eradicating polio, we do maternal health, literacy, different projects, and then each individual club in its own area chooses their own service projects to do."

Jackie Huie, Governor of Rotary International District 6360 told us during the ceremony "We had two middle schoolers here to help us with the dedication, because peace does start with our young people. ...There are flags around the peace pole that were painted by different middle schoolers, and that was very significant to us."

Chris Singleton, and inspirational speaker and former South Bend Cubs Player makes it to as many rotary events as he can: 

"It's important to me because about 11 years ago, I lost my mom in a very tragic way. It was a mass shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, where nine people were taken away. One of those people was my mom, and the promise I made was that I was going to be the opposite of her killer. So, every year, about 100 days out of the year, my wife and three kids let me be on the road sharing a message that's going to bring people together, and that's what I'm doing here."

"...You know, they always put others above themselves, and they raise money for kids... so, when they call, I usually answer and say, I'd love to be there."