Rotarians on both sides of the Detroit River unveiled new monuments of peace in their respective communities on Saturday, before meeting on the Gordie Howe International Bridge. In Windsor, a gathering of speeches, songs, and solidarity was held at Malden Park to unveil the new peace pole and sitting area. Linda Morrow, the past District Governor of Rotary District 6400, said work has been underway for over a year to unveil matching poles in both countries. “It’s sort of a symbol or a signpost that Rotary has linked in to, to look at how do we navigate peace and how do we promote peace and think about that,” she said. On the Canadian side, Morrow said they chose an often-used path overlooking the new bridge. The pole reads “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” written in a different language on each side. Another post was placed in Detroit’s Riverside Park and unveiled by American members at the same time. “So, I’m hoping that they’ll maybe just sit down, maybe think a little bit, relax a little bit because maybe some people need to do that,” Morrow said. “Think about what is my role in bringing peace or in bringing harmony or kindness to my home, to my community, to my classroom, and if we start there, then it can grow.” Thousands of poles exist across the world, Morrow said, to show a commitment to peace. After the celebration, Rotarians on both sides of the border climbed the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Members walked in shirts, red for Canadians and blue for Americans, each showing half of the bridge. When members from each country stood together, it connected the two sides. At the halfway point, they gathered to celebrate their friendship and eat a cookie. Edward Smith, the District Governor Nominee for District 6400, travelled from Michigan to attend the celebration on the Canadian side. Outside his own home, Smith said he has a similar peace pole to advocate for people of all ethnicities. “There are a lot of things that people can look at to divide us, but we’re all one,” Smith said. The event comes at a time when Canada-U.S. relations are tumultuous, highlighted by an ongoing trade war between the two countries. Smith said he felt it was important to show they still have love for Canadians and that a “bridge of friendship” remains among citizens from both sides. “Our friendship is long-lasting, and it will last long beyond any confusion that’s there right now,” Smith said. For Morrow, she recognized Saturday’s event won’t solve tensions in U.S.-Canada relations, but it will serve as a reminder of the long-lasting friendships for residents on both sides. “Through it all, we’ve maintained friendships, and so I think it’s important that despite all the things that come at us that sometimes can really be challenging and can really be emotional, it’s also an opportunity to say, but good things are happening,” she said.
