By Dylan Friedman

A group of passionate young community members are taking a stand for peace, literally.

With hands stained with paint and hearts filled with hope, youth from North Shore United Methodist Church in Wading River embarked on a project to erect a Peace Pole, an 11.5-foot symbol of unity and harmony, in front of an estimated 65 attendees.

The Peace Pole Project is a global movement that began in Japan in the 1970s and is now incorporated as May Peace Prevail on Earth International. More than 250,000 Peace Poles have been planted around the globe, including several in New York state.

While May Peace Prevail on Earth International often sells templated poles, project orchestrator and youth group leader Palesa Ramohlouane expressed pride in the fact that the church’s youth and congregation decided to make, design, and plant the pole themselves after months of theological groundwork.

“We had some choices about how we wanted to do the Peace Pole, whether we wanted to pay for one or build it,” Ramohlouane said. “I wanted them to have a sense of ownership instead of us just buying it. So they decided to make their own, and I think all of [the youth] reported they are grateful for the time we spent on the project and that those moments were also moments of peace,” she said.

Although the youth decided to create their own Peace Pole, they stayed true to the original design by ensuring the phrase “May peace prevail on Earth” appeared on the pole in six different languages, a consistent feature of Peace Poles worldwide. While the design, colors, art, and weatherproofing were done entirely by the youth, congregation members assisted with construction and planting, which, according to Ramohlouane, was an intended byproduct of the project.

“People noticing a Peace Pole brings people together,” Ramohlouane said. “It’s definitely about bringing the community together, spreading peace, and making sure that, even in its art form, it is interesting enough for people to spend a little time reflecting,” she said.

After months of hard work that started in the twilight of 2023, the pole was finally finished and placed near the church on Oct. 19. The church’s pastor, Rev. Thomas Kim, presided at the consecration, which featured members of the youth group and clergy representing Buddhist, Islamic, Jewish, and Christian faith communities, a testament to the church’s extensive community influence. A representative from each faith community delivered a peace message or scripture as a testament to this influence.

Furthermore, co-youth group leader Heather Caldara and youth group members Sanku Assamagan, Daniel Scielzi, and Riley Stark delivered inspiring remarks to reflect on the creation of the Peace Pole.

While the towering 11.5-foot Peace Pole initially stands out as a striking symbol of unity and hope, its ultimate goal is to seamlessly and quietly integrate into the fabric of the community. As time passes, the pole, made to stand out, hopes to blend in, a quiet reminder to pause, reflect, and find peace in the everyday. As Ramohlouane stated, the project’s purpose is to “be in our community,” inviting individuals to interpret its meaning and find personal resonance and peace within its powerful presence.