On February 7, 2025, the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island dedicated the first Rotary Peace Pole to be placed in Kitsap County. The pole is located at the entrance to Waypoint Woods, adjacent to the Waypoint Park on Highway 305 and Winslow Way, on Bainbridge Island. Despite the cold temperatures, members of the city government, local Rotary clubs, the BI Japanese American Community, members of the Suquamish tribe, and representatives of the Indipino Community gathered round to celebrate this monument to peace on earth.
The message inscribed on the pole: “May Peace Prevail on Earth” was authored by the late Masahisa Goi of Japan after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and is an international message of peace with over 250,000 Peace Poles in every country in the world, dedicated as monuments to peace. The message brings together people of all faiths, backgrounds, and cultures to embrace the oneness of the lands and people of this earth.
The languages on the Bainbridge Island peace pole represent the earliest inhabitants of the island: Japanese, Indipino, and Suquamish peoples. There is also a Braille plaque and a QR code on the pole to access more information about the project. The message is referred to as an affirmation of peace and its placement furthers Rotary’s goal of building a culture of peace throughout the world.
The Bainbridge Rotary Peace Pole was made possible through generous gifts of funds and talents. We are grateful to Cassandra George of the Suquamish Tribe for assisting with the language translation into the Lushootseed dialect of the local tribe. BI Parks and Recreation district created a beautiful swivel base so that all sides of the pole could be accessed. Ceremony participants were given cut flowers to place by the pole as they walked by and took photos.
Nancy Houghton, Co-Chair of the Peacebuilders Action Group, was the emcee and addressed the history of Peace Poles and their significance around the world. Speakers included President of RCBI, Fred Hoffer, who spoke to the need for thinking of peace beyond words, platitudes, and symbols. He also spoke about Rotary International’s partnering with the Institute for Economics and Peace and emphasized the need for each of us to pursue avenues for creating peace in our chaotic world. Carol Reitz, Co-Chair of the Peacebuilders Action Group, addressed the eight pillars of peace and the need for measurable, concrete actions that allow human potential to flourish.
During the ceremony, a few Rotarians led the onlookers in singing “We Are the World”, and local poet Meg Bishop delivered a poem she had written for the occasion entitled “One Little Seed.”
Nancy Houghton wrapped up the dedication with a quote from Desmond Tutu: “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world,” and her summary: “May Peace Prevail On Earth allows us to sincerely focus on our mutual desire to serve, create, and manifest true peace on earth while transcending our differences and celebrating our common humanity. Together, we can foster peace in our families, communities, and around the world.”
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by Nancy Houghton