A Peace Pole that traveled across Rotary District 5520 has found a permanent home in Albuquerque’s Rotary Park, bringing a simple message to a place already rich in Rotary history: “May Peace Prevail on Earth.”
Rotarians and friends gathered September 20, 2026, on the eve of the International Day of Peace, to dedicate the pole, which carries its message in English and Spanish.
District Governor Jeff Weinrach spoke about peace as a foundation of Rotary’s work, connecting it with service, goodwill, and friendship. The ceremony offered an opportunity to bring that commitment into focus and consider how each person can put it into practice.
A Peace Pole that traveled across Rotary District 5520 has found a permanent home in Albuquerque’s Rotary Park, bringing a simple message to a place already rich in Rotary history: “May Peace Prevail on Earth.”
Rotarians and friends gathered September 20, 2026, on the eve of the International Day of Peace, to dedicate the pole, which carries its message in English and Spanish.
District Governor Jeff Weinrach spoke about peace as a foundation of Rotary’s work, connecting it with service, goodwill, and friendship. The ceremony offered an opportunity to bring that commitment into focus and consider how each person can put it into practice.
For Immediate Past District Governor Tom Simon, the dedication also marked the end of a memorable journey. Simon received the pole on behalf of the district at the previous October’s Zone Institute in Albuquerque. Before choosing a permanent location, he and his wife, Deborah, took it along on their district travels. Between trips, it stood in their living room.
Simon’s account brought warmth and humor to the ceremony, along with a reflection on the relationships that sustain peace. Drawing on 35 years of marriage, he emphasized the importance of recognizing our interconnectedness and nurturing it over time.
The setting added another layer of meaning. Rotary Park’s dedication plaque dates to June 22, 1991, and recognizes the Rotary Club of Albuquerque and the Rotary Club of Albuquerque Del Norte. During the ceremony, club representatives reflected on the park’s continuing role as a place for fellowship, picnics, and remembrance, including trees, plaques, and a bench honoring members.
Guest speaker Paul Ingles, co-founder and executive producer of Peace Talks Radio, connected the pole’s visible message with the daily work of peacemaking. Believing in peace and giving it a public presence matter, he explained; the next step is acting peacefully in our own lives.
Drawing on years of conversations about nonviolent conflict resolution, Ingles encouraged listeners to begin close to home—with compassion for themselves, greater curiosity about others, and a willingness to listen without immediately preparing a response. Those habits can extend outward through families, friendships, workplaces, and communities.
The gathering concluded with a group photograph around the newly unveiled pole. Long after the ceremony, its message will remain for neighbors and visitors: an invitation to pause, reflect, and help make peace part of everyday life.