"Song of the Earth" by Giona Nissensonf and C.C. Couch was the opening music and theme song for the afternoon of June 8, 1995, when the People's Garden at 11th and Keystone became the recipient of an award given around the world.

Gorky Park in Moscow has one. The Magnetic North Pole has one. The Pyramids of El Giza in Egypt have one. And now Indianapolis has one.

A "Peace Pole" was dedicated on that overcast Saturday in front of a small crowd gathered at the garden.

The People's Garden isn't big. It sits on what used to be a vacant lot and has been divided up into twenty 9' x 11' gardens. The spaces are free for anyone to use to plant flowers and vegetables. All the little gardens were looking good the day of the dedication. Several were lush with lettuces and early-producing vegetables. Many others plants were just beginning to break through the wet ground.

The Peace Pole Project was started by the World Peace Prayer Society in Japan in 1955 as part of a vision for global peace. Since the Project's beginnings 41 years ago, over 100,000 poles have been placed in 100 countries around the world with the messages "May Peace Prevail on Earth" and "May Peace Be in Our Homes and Communities."

During the ceremony, children and adults were given the opportunity to write their wishes on pieces of paper, hopes and prayers for a better understanding between people and a peaceful community. After the dedication of the Peace Pole by Andy Jacobs, Jr., Mrs. Ethel Kemp and Larry Kahl helped the children place those prayers inside the plastic bag in which the pole was shipped. The bag was put inside the hollow Peace Pole, which was later permanently set in cement.

The America the Beautiful Fund had been given 200 Peace Poles from the North America Peace Pole Project to award, and Indianapolis was fortunate to become one of the recipients.