Tuesday, September 3, 2013

"Vallejo Sister City Peace Pole"

 message from the Vallejo Sister City Association:
You do not have to be Filipino, Japanese, Italian, Korean, Norwegian or African to appreciate cultures of different countries, says the Vallejo Sister City Association.
The nonprofit organization, formed in 1971, believes that appreciating and exploring different cities through culture, education and business is key to promoting peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation.
Thanks to Benicia sign maker, Larry Pinero, Vallejo now has a monument to represent the six international cities considered our sister. The six-sided, nine-foot obelisk "peace pole" sits nestled in front of the entrance ramp to the ferry docks at 289 Mare Island Way.
While obelisks commonly have four sides, the Vallejo pole has six, with each of its sister cities dedicated by a commemorative plaque; Akashi of Japan, Bagamoyo of Tanzania, Baguio of the Philippines, Jincheon of South Korea, La Spezia of Italy, and Trondheim of Norway, are all represented on the peace pole.
The pole was officially installed in late September 2012, commemorating 50 years of Vallejo's participation in the Sister Cities program and was a gift to the City from the Vallejo Sister City Association.