Waunakee Community Dedicates Peace Pole at WNC, Wisconsin, USA
Peace Pole planted: July 29, 2025
As Waunakee village staff looked to improve the overall site and landscaping at the Waunakee Neighborhood Connection (WNC) and Waunakee Food Pantry site, a symbol of world peace and unity became incorporated in the project.
Waunakee community members joined the Waunakee Neighborhood Connection and village staff to dedicate the Rotary Peace Pole on July 29, while celebrating the new, more welcoming South Street site.
In eight different languages, the message on the Peace Pole reads, “May peace prevail on Earth,” and at the dedication, community members read it in English, German, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Turkish and Arabic. The message is also printed on the pole in Ho-Chunk and Hmong, all languages chosen by the Waunakee Community School District.
The school district has played a role in beautifying the village for several years, as two of the elementary school art teachers, Renee Gavigan and Jessica Stortz, have worked on mural projects, according to Kylie West, assistant to the village administrator and community development director.
Two Waunakee elementary school art teachers led a community mural painting project at the site.
Credit: Roberta Baumann