The Library announces peace pole dedication

Growing up hearing stories about Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Keiko Lewis became interested in the peace movement.

When she saw that a peace pole had been installed at City Beach, she knew she wanted to be a part of an initiative to have peace poles installed throughout the community, said Marcy Timblin, public relations, marketing & community development for the East Bonner County Library District.

That was 18 years ago. Since then, Lewis, Barb Veranium, Lama Yonton, and Ellen Weissman have planted about 15 peace poles in the area. Keiko has since moved back to Japan, but her friends are continuing that mission.

“It has become a passion of mine in the last couple of years to plant one [peace pole] somewhere each year in September on or near the 21st, which is the International Day of Peace,” Weissman said.

The Sandpoint Library has been selected as the most recent peace pole recipient. It is to be installed near the front entrance and may be relocated to the new library garden in the future. The pole is sponsored by the Sandpoint Quakers and First Presbyterian Church. It has the phrase “May Peace Prevail on Earth” printed in four languages, English, Salish, sign language, and animal paw prints. There is also a braille plaque, Timblin said.

A brief dedication and unveiling ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Sandpoint Library on Friday, Nov. 2. Pax Longenecker, Washington School third-grader will perform the unveiling. Born on the International Day of Peace to Jameson and Amy Longenecker, the name Pax means peace in Latin.

The unveiling at The Library is part of a two-part party for peace to be followed by a World Community Day event at First Presbyterian Church, 417 N. Fourth Ave. Refreshments will be served near their 12-language peace pole.

Th community is invited to join the library Friday to celebrate this new addition and continue the movement that started decades ago, Timblin said.