ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department joined the GFWC Cosmopolitan Woman’s Club on Veterans Day to dedicate a new Peace Pole at Phil Chacon Park, adding a symbol of unity and peace to the city’s International District.
The dedication was held on Nov. 11, a date historically observed as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of fighting in World War I in 1918. City officials said the date was chosen to connect the observance of Veterans Day with the broader message of peace.
Donated by the GFWC Cosmopolitan Woman’s Club, the Peace Pole features the phrase “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in eight languages: English, Spanish, Diné (Navajo), Vietnamese, Korean, Canadian French, Arabic and Swahili. The monument also includes a Braille plaque to make its message accessible to more visitors.
The installation is part of a worldwide movement that began in Japan in 1976 and has since expanded to more than 200,000 Peace Poles in communities around the globe. The movement traces its roots to Japanese philosopher and poet Masahisa Goi, who introduced the phrase in 1955.
City officials said the Peace Pole’s location near the eastern end of the International District Art Walk makes it a visible addition to one of Albuquerque’s most diverse neighborhoods.
The Phil Chacon Park installation is the second Peace Pole placed in an Albuquerque city park. The first was dedicated at Rotary Park in September.
Mayor Tim Keller said the monument serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding, respect and community connection, while David Simon, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, noted that parks serve as gathering spaces for people from many different backgrounds.
