ANDERSON TWP. — Peace on Earth is being symbolized in 160 countries around the world in the form of peace poles.

        Greater Anderson Promotes Peace (GAPP) has joined in, selecting a design this week for a peace pole to be erected in Veterans Park on Forest Road near Eight Mile Road.

        “The pole will be a public symbol of respect for the dignity of every person and a commitment to promote tolerance, diversity and dialogue,” said Louise Lawarre, a founding member of GAPP. “Our pole will be one of nearly 200,000 around the world. Many of them have been erected to raise awareness of peace and to promote healing of conflict or tragedy.”

        Anderson Township became the victim of racial hate last year when hate literature was distributed throughout the township twice and a swastika was painted on the house of a Jewish family.

        GAPP was formed to make a statement against the hate literature, Mrs. Lawarre said.

        Selecting the design was the first step in getting the peace pole erected. A fund drive will start next week to raise $20,000 to complete the project, said Sue Goldberg, co-chair of the peace pole project.

        “We will ask people to purchase commemorative bricks to be installed near the peace pole,” Mrs. Goldberg said. “Some of the designs will be made into smaller peace poles that can be purchased to be placed in yards. We may have a peace pole in every yard in Anderson Township.”

        The design selected was submitted by artist Joel Selmeier of Anderson Township. Mr. Selmeier said the pole will be made of granite, 9feet tall with six flat sides. The inscription on the base on the pole will be: “May Peace Prevail on Earth.”

        “It will be inscribed in 12 different languages,” Mr. Selmeier said.

        The first peace pole was designed in Japan in 1955 by Masahisa Goi, a peace advocate. A peace pole was erected last year in Nairobi, Kenya, to promote reconciliation and commemorate victims after the bombing of the U.S. Embassy.

        Peace poles have been dedicated by such notables as the Dalai Lama, former President Jimmy Carter, Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa.

        Mrs. Goldberg said GAPP hopes to get the pole erected in Veterans Park by spring.

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