With the deadly conflict between the United States and Iran monopolizing global headlines, the Rotary Club of Winchester has renewed its call for peace on Earth.
The civic organization, which in November created the world’s first Peace Garden, dedicated its second garden on Monday afternoon in the outdoor play area at Winchester Day Preschool on Liberty Street.
“The Peace Garden is a quiet space which provides a refuge to facilitate peaceful, positive community dialogue and is a reminder to the students, staff and families [at Winchester Day Preschool] of the need to enable all to live to their fullest potential,” Winchester Rotary Club President Paul Frank said at Monday’s dedication while standing in the midst of nearly four dozen preschoolers who came outside to witness the event.
Peace Gardens are tranquil in their simplicity. The centerpiece is a white Peace Pole that bears the words, “May Peace Prevail On Earth,” in four languages. The gardens also include flowers and a bench provided by Trex Co. Inc. as part of its Nextrex program, which rewards schools and community organizations with a free wood-alternative bench in exchange for the donation of 1,000 pounds of soft film plastics, including grocery bags, within a one-year period.
Emily Whitacre, promotions coordinator for the Winchester-based Trex, said her company limits the number of donated benches to 25 per quarter but hundreds more are usually requested.
“The first quarter [of 2026], we had about 2,000 [applications],” Whitacre said following Monday’s ceremony.
Rotarian Pat Kofalt said the Peace Pole movement in Winchester was first suggested by Rabbi Jonathan Brown, who headed Beth El Congregation in Winchester and taught at Shenandoah University prior to his death on June 15, 2020.
“When the Tree of Life synagogue was shot up in Pittsburgh [on Oct. 27, 2018], he was very distraught and he asked, ‘Is there anything Rotary does [to promote peace]?” Kofalt said on Monday. “We did some research and we found out they have the Rotary Action Group for Peace, which sponsors these Peace Poles, so we got involved with that.”
Winchester’s first Peace Pole was erected on the campus of Handley High School in May 2023, followed by a second near the front entrance to John Kerr Elementary School in April 2025. The first Peace Garden was dedicated five months ago next to the Winchester Rotary Club’s picnic shelter and play area in Jim Barnett Park.
Sue Dyer, director of Winchester Day Preschool, said her nonprofit organization appreciated being chosen as the site for the Rotary Club’s second Peace Garden, which is located in a corner of the preschool’s fenced-in playground.
“I am worried about the flowers,” Dyer said with a grin as excited preschoolers checked out the new, mulch-covered addition to their play area.
The rest of the Peace Garden, Frank said, will withstand any punishment a preschooler can dole out. The Trex bench is solid and heavy, and the Peace Pole is embedded in cement.
Frank added that he thinks the flowers will be just fine.
“Their kids are great,” he said of the preschool’s students. “They don’t throw mulch or anything.”
Winchester Day Preschool was founded in 1939 as Winchester Day Nursery. About 20 years ago, when it became apparent the facility was more than a nursery because it also educated students ages 2 to 5, the nonprofit’s name was changed to Winchester Day Preschool.
Today, Dyer said, “we take care of 46 students and we have 10 teachers” to prepare the children for kindergarten and beyond.
Those students were in fine voice Monday as they sang: “We are the world, we are the children, we are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving.”
The kids expressed their individuality during the song by running through the lyrics at different tempos, but everything came together nicely by the end of the tune.
Winchester Day Preschool is open from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to accommodate the schedules of working families. Tuition is based on a family’s income, which makes it affordable for caregivers on a budget. For more information, visit winchesterdaypreschool.org.
Now that the Winchester Rotary Club has dedicated its second Peace Garden, members are keen to add more. Kofalt said the next garden is planned for the Winchester Rescue Mission at 2655 Valley Ave., and Quarles Elementary School, Daniel Morgan Middle School and Shenandoah University are all candidates for future installations.
To learn more about the Rotary Club of Winchester, go to rotaryclubofwinchester.org.
Comments are closed.