The plaque at the base reads:
"May Peace Prevail on Earth"
International Peace Pole
Dedicated April 27, 2007
by the City of Carbondale
and the Peace Coalition of Southern Illinois
From an article in the Southern Illinoisan (
visit link)
"April 28, 2007 12:00 am • CALEB HALE, THE SOUTHERN
CARBONDALE - Eight languages scrawled across four sides of a wooden post deliver one message in Carbondale's Friendship Plaza: "May Peace Prevail on Earth."
They're called Peace Poles, and they exist in 180 countries around the world. There are more than 220,000 across the globe and now, thanks to a joint effort from city officials and community organizations, there is one more in Southern Illinois.
Carbondale Mayor Brad Cole and Margie Parker, representing the Peace Coalition of Southern Illinois, dedicated an international Peace Pole in the Friendship Plaza at the corner of South Illinois Avenue and Mill Street Friday.
The project, which is the third addition to the plaza since the city opened it three years ago, was also sponsored by the Carbondale Interfaith Council, Church Women United of Carbondale, the Southern Illinois chapter of the United Nations Association in the U.S.A., the Justice and Witness Committee of Church of the Good Shepherd, the Southern Illinois Society of Friends, the Social Action Committee of the Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship, Carbondale Main Street and the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce.
"Peace Poles are becoming familiar around the country and across the globe as symbols of efforts to encourage peace and peaceful activities," Cole said. "With inspiration coming from the Southern Illinois Peace Coalition, we have worked together as a community to now dedicate a Peace Pole as a permanent part of Friendship Plaza."
Parker said the pole is especially pertinent today, as the U.S. continues to engage in a war on terrorism.
"This simple pole with its profound message, I don't think it's an exaggeration to say peace is the goal of all people in the world," Parker said.
However, she said peace will come through understanding and tolerance, not through lashing out in violence, no matter what people may be trying to preempt.
While the Peace Pole event carried a message related to current international affairs, Cole said the pole also represents Carbondale's belated observance of Earth Day, which was Sunday.
Cole said Friendship Plaza has become a nice addition to the downtown community and the pole is yet another component for visitors to enjoy."
The pole is bare wood and the languages were burnt in, but are very weathered and fading now.