City of Riverside, Riverside East Rotary Club Dedicate Peace Pole at City Hall

Published: 6/26/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

June 26, 2026

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Phil Pitchford

Public Information Officer

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City of Riverside, Riverside East Rotary Club Dedicate Peace Pole at City Hall

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The City of Riverside and members of the Riverside East Rotary Club dedicated a new Peace Pole at City Hall today (6/26) in the garden near the Military Wall of Honor along 10^th Street.

The pole, donated by the club, carries the message "May Peace Prevail On Earth" in English, Spanish, Japanese and Chamorro, the native language of Guam and the Pacific islands. Riverside is one of more than 200,000 communities around the world to have such a pole.

"The Riverside Peace Pole is a meaningful contribution to our community's reflections on America's founding ideals of liberty, unity, and hope for a peaceful future," said Richard Lemire, founding president of the club. "It is tied directly into the spirit of America 250, allowing us to celebrate the pole as a lasting symbol of peace during this historic commemorative period."

Riverside East, one of four Rotary clubs in the city, will celebrate its 40^th anniversary next summer.

City Councilmember Philip Falcone, who represents the downtown area where the pole is located, said the ceremony reminded him of "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me," a hymn he learned as a child.

"Peace poles are visual representations installed in cities across the world to remind communities that each of us have the ability to make an impact and bring about peace in our neighborhoods through acts of service and charity," Falcone said.

More information about Peace Poles can be found at: https://www.worldpeace.org/peacepoleproject/

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