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A small and amazing thing happened on the grounds of the Monona Public Library on the morning of Saturday, June 7, 2008. A group of grown-ups sat down to listen to a group of adolescent girls talk about the importance of peace. (It could be argued that such sessions should be mandatory for all adults given the way we have messed things up.)
I speak of the Peace Pole & Garden Dedication - a gift to the community from Girl Scout Troop 603. I will admit that I attended mostly out of a sense of obligation as the council's Library Board. And then a funny thing happened - the program began and I started listening to the message of peace from these young women (they are all headed off to high school next year). As I reflected on their message, the peace pole itself, and the sustained effort these girls put into this project, my heart overflowed.
The wooden pole is engraved with the phrase "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in twelve languages, selected by the Troop and spoken in the surrounding community -- English, Arabic, Hmong, German, Spanish, Swahili, Hebrew, Japanese, French, Hindi, Tibetan, and Ho-Chunk. Stop by and take a look at the pole and the small garden the Troop planted.
The girls who made this special addition to our community deserve recognition and thanks: Mariah Cohen-Davis, Sophia Finster, Abigail Frank-Taylor, Cara Mackesey, Jacy Weissburg, Erica Wienke, and Olivia Boyd. Former Troop members who aided the project: Emily Baer, Aubrey Botello, Jenna Farnsworth, Sophia Linsenmeyer, Emmy Reeg, Kira Rygiewicz-Crumb, and Brianna Wienke.
Also deserving of our thanks are the Troop leaders Leslie Frank-Taylor, Patti Mackesey, and Debbie Baer.
I hope to add some pictures later.
The Peace Pole and Girl Scout Troop 603 - be proud of them Monona.
For more info on Peace Poles: Peace Pole Project
"May Peace Prevail on Earth"
Wouldn't it be wonderful if the message of these remarkable young women could be heard by all of us! Peace studies, non-violent resolution of conflict, social justice ideals...all options which need reinforcing in our schools and families.
ReplyDeleteLibraries are centers of culture everywhere, and Monona is fortunate to have such a marvelous one.
How did these women achieve this in this war-like time?
I hope they receive public recognition for thier endeavors.
Say, I know this is the wrong place, but we in trouble with flooding.
ReplyDeleteI do not live on belle isle.
Thanks!
See my new post on flooding contacts. Where do you live?
ReplyDeleteThank you Doug for posting this blog about the beautiful and amazing job Troop 603 did, along with the troop leaders. The Peace Pole is incredible and I hope others take notice, and remember what peace means to them.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter, Mariah, continued to be in the sisterhood of Troop 603 when we moved from Monona to Fitchburg. Girl Scouts has been a solid foundation, and positive influence for her during the trying times of adolesence.
I am proud of Troop 603 and it's contribution to the city of Monona. Bravo ladies!