Soroptimist International of Fillmore will celebrate the International Day of Peace on September 20th at 1:00 in the City Park in front of City Hall with a ceremony at the location of the prospective Peace Pole site at the City Park in from of City Hall. All are invited to participate in this important day. The International Day of Peace began in 1982 through a United Nations proclamation “devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations”. It was expanded in 2001 to a call for a day of global cease fire and nonviolence.

They began to honor the International Day of Peace in 2008 with a celebration and a temporary pole. Fillmore City Council approved the installation of a permanent Peace Pole to be installed in City Park at their last meeting. This year the pole will be the same temporary pole that has been used in the past. Participants will be invited to affix the word PEACE in various languages to the pole. Rev. Julie Morris, priest of Fillmore Trinity Episcopal Church will give the opening prayer followed by a short ceremony led by Sarah Hansen.

In our own town violence continues. Our town, our county and our world needs a concerted movement toward reconciliation and peace. At a time when people around the world are being needlessly killed and wars are decimating entire populations, this call to peace is even more urgently needed. We hope that you will join with us in the City Park to reinforce the need for personal, community and world peace!

To establish a permanent Peace Pole, Soroptimists International Fillmore have made the initial donation toward the purchase. The remainder will be raised through donations and fundraisers. If you would like to donate money to help pay for the permanent Peace Pole please make the check to out to Soroptimists Int. of Fillmore with Peace Pole on the bottom of the check and bring it on Sunday to the ceremony, or contact any Soroptimist. We thank you for supporting this critical effort. If you have any questions, please call Sarah Hansen at 524-0132 or Soroptimist President Oralia Herrera, at 524-6936.