There will be a new commemorative piece added to the Margaret B. Upton Arboretum, along the River in downtown St. Joseph.
The Rotary Club of St. Joseph-Benton Harbor will host a Peace Pole Dedication Ceremony on Friday, May 15 at 8:30a.m. at the Arboretum. The Rotary Club is inviting the community to come together in a shared commitment to peace, unity, and goodwill.
The Peace Pole, an internationally recognized symbol, bears the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in multiple languages. It serves as a quiet yet powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to foster understanding, kindness, and harmony in our communities and around the world.
The project reflects Rotary’s ongoing dedication to promoting peace, one of its core areas of focus. The dedication ceremony will include brief remarks from club leaders and community partners, along with a moment of reflection to honor the importance of peace in today’s world.
As part of the event, local students have contributed a special artistic element with the collaboration from Mary Judd-LoPresti and Amanda Koch(Upton Junior High/Trinity Lutheran) by creating peace flags, expressing their visions of kindness, unity, and hope. This addition brings a meaningful youth voice to the ceremony and highlights the importance of teaching and modeling peace for the next generation.
The top 5 winners were: Holland VanAntwerp and Lily VandeWege from Upton Junior High School and Madison H and Erika Wood from Trinity Lutheran School. One submission privately from Charlie Schoonveld from St. Joseph. First place went to Holland VanAntwerp.
“This Peace Pole represents more than just words, it reflects action,” said Renee Borah, Club President. “It stands as a daily reminder that peace begins with each of us, right here in our own community.”
The Rotary Club would like to thank Greg Grothous, City of St.Joseph, for his help in selecting the location and to Mike Medlin for helping install it.
During the dedication ceremony Rotarians Jenny Zerrenner, Virginia Antonson, Renee Borah and Dawn Lamas will recite the Peace Pole message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” in English, French, Potawatomi, and Spanish, symbolizing unity and Cultural respect.
The public is invited to attend, witness the dedication and tie a ribbon of peace.
Event Details:
Date: May 15th, 2026
Time: 8:30 am
Location: Margaret B Upton Arboretum
