Lake Zurich’s new peace pole on Main Street was dedicated last month on what is commemorated as the International Day of Peace.
The pole dedication, held Sept. 21, was a long awaited highlight for those who brought the nearly 15 feet tall stainless steel peace pole to Lake County. It features the word “peace” translated in 60 languages spoken in Ela Township. Braille and sign language are also included.
“If only peace was as simple as making a peace pole, right?” said Lake Zurich Mayor Tom Poynton. “The fact that we have one is great.”
The pole is installed at 95 E. Main St., next to the Ela Historical Society and Museum. It has the words for peace cut through the pole’s surface allowing it to shine light out from within at night.
Peace poles can be found worldwide, and there are several in Illinois including a large number in Rockford.
Ironically, by the time people gathered for the Thursday dedication event, some of the metal letters on the pole had been punched.
“I think it’s gorgeous,” Ela Township Supervisor Gloria Palmblad said of the peace pole. “I’m disappointed somebody went ahead and vandalized it already. It’s taken a long time to get here.”
Elected officials, area residents neighbors and other supporters attended the dedication, which included a program, presentation and other festivities, and refreshments. Also, peace flags were distributed
The evening concluded with dancing and singing around the pole. An Ela Township time capsule containing research and notes about the peace pole is set to be opened in 50 years.
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Poynton said he is impressed by “the diversity that’s represented by the 60 languages that are on the pole, you know, which I think is cool because we like to consider ourselves a diverse and open community.”
In early 2020, after learning that more than 60 languages are spoken by families of Lake Zurich School District 95, Lake Zurich resident Shari Gullo and landscape architect Pamela Self, of Arlington Heights, co-founded the Ela Peace Project, a non-partisan group, to bring a peace pole to Ela Township.
All or parts of Barrington, North Barrington and Lake Zurich are part of the township.
“We wanted to do something good,” Self said. “We don’t all actually fool ourselves into believing that the world will be a peaceful place, but you have to keep hoping that you can make it better.”
She said there are 250,000 peace poles around the world.
Gullo and Self collaborated in 2003 on an outdoor learning center at the original May Whitney Elementary School in Lake Zurich.
In summer 2020, Gullo and Self brought their idea for peace poles to the District 95 Educational Foundation, resulting in peace poles at Lake Zurich public schools.
In September 2020, Gullo presented the peace pole concept to Ela Township officials.
“My bilingual neighbors provided me with translations of the word for peace in their native tongues,” Gullo said.
“I wish everyone who feels hatred for those who are bilingual, for immigrants, for people of color, for people who are different from them could have seen the joy on my neighbors’ faces when they first saw their languages represented on our peace pole,” said Gullo. “It made all the work we have done to bring a peace pole to Ela Township worthwhile.”
Self designed the peace pole. There were obstacles having it installed including opposition from a local service group.
“We went around to a lot of towns and asked if they wanted to do it (peace pole) and Ela Township was the only one who said yes,” Self said.
Volunteer Marcia Marshall, of Vernon Hills, said the pole stands as a symbol of values, beliefs, commitment to community and to humanity as a whole.
Lake Zurich residents Cathy McCauley and Alicia Timm were also among volunteers. McCauley said seeing the police lit up at night for the first time, with the various words for peace illuminated, “was humbling” and offered a sense of home and connection.
“My hope is that people visit the peace pole and meditate on peace,” said Timm.
On Dec. 23, 2021, the Ela Township board approved the Ela Peace Pole plan and design. The peace pole project was completed using no township funds, officials explained.
Organizers indicated all funding for the peace project was obtained through donations from a GoFundMe effort, and well as from fundraisers and contributions from donors.
“It unites us in a common goal,” Timm said. “It starts here.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer.