Rotary World Understanding
and Peace Day Awareness

To increase awareness of the role Rotary plays in peace efforts, a ceremony was held on February 21, 2008 at the Baldwin County Courthouse.  Rotarians, their families, and citizens of Milledgeville and Baldwin County were invited to participate in the celebration.  On September 5, 1996, Milledgeville/Baldwin County became the first Rotary Peace Community in the United States.  The Peace Monument that now stands beside the Baldwin County Courthouse in downtown Milledgeville is a reminder to all passers by that the Rotarians of Milledgeville and Baldwin County remain committed to the promotion of peace and goodwill through service to others – both at home and around the world.  The monument was erected on July 18, 1996 as a result of the hard work and generosity of local Rotarians.

Approximately 60% of the club members and family members attended the Peace Day Celebration.  Club members took care of printing programs, scheduling the speakers, on the day of the event, helped set out chairs for the band and guests.  Others assisted in getting the street in from of the courthouse blocked off for the event.  Rotarian and Past President Sam Watson gave the invocation and a brief history of the peace monument.  Rotarian Captain Mike Holmes, retired from the United Sates Navy, was the speaker.

The National Colors were presented by the Georgia Military College Color Guard and the National Anthem was sung by Georgia Military College student, Shay Aycock... The Georgia Military Band was scheduled to perform, but rain moved the event indoors and the band was unable to play. 

The need to promote peace awareness is evident throughout our world today.  All Rotarians are continually working toward one goal – to bring understanding and peace throughout the world.

Milledgeville Rotary’s Peace Day Celebration was a great opportunity to bring city & county officials, law enforcement, concerned citizens, Georgia Military College Prep School band students, and Rotarians together to give thanks and to also reiterate our dedication for better peace throughout our city, state, country, and world.

The event received front page coverage from our local daily newspaper that has a circulation of 8200.