Peace-seeking project

What began as a Girl Scout Gold Award project became an icon for world peace in Spokane Valley.

Aimee Goold and Amanda Edens worked hard for more than a year, putting in more than 60 hours, battling red tape, lack of awareness and funding to install an 8-foot handcrafted peace pole in Mirabeau Point Park.

The girls came up with the idea in spring 2006 while researching project ideas on the Internet. Masahisa Goi of the World Peace Prayer Society in Japan founded the peace pole project in 1955 to uplift humankind toward harmony rather than conflict.

Today there are 200,000 peace poles in 190 countries at locations such as Ground Zero in New York City, Gorky Park in Russia and the pyramids in Egypt.

“We wanted to do something besides food and clothing drives,” Goold said.

“We wanted something with lasting value in the community,” Edens said. “Something we could go back to 20 years from now.”

After securing approval from the Girl Scout Council, the girls needed to gain permission from the city of Spokane Valley to place the pole in Mirabeau Point Park. Initially they encountered difficulty being placed on the City Council agenda.

“It was a struggle,” Edens said. “We called a number of times and no one returned our calls. But we were determined to get this done.”

After several calls, the girls got onto the Council agenda in August 2006.

The council did not give the girls immediate approval.

“We had to educate them on what a Gold Award was,” Edens said. “They (the City Council) wanted to talk about it and get back to us.”

The Gold Award is the highest honor earned in Girl Scouts. A national award, it encompasses organizational, leadership and networking skills. Scouts must devote 50 hours to the project.

After presenting to the Council a second time in September, they received permission to install the pole. Though they received funds from their troop, the next step was to secure the additional funds required to complete the project.

“We sent out many letters to area businesses with not a lot of success,” Edens said.

The girls decided to try another approach by attending two Valley Chamber breakfasts at the beginning of 2007. After presenting their idea, they received funds enough to order the pole.

The cost of the pole was $962. The four-sided wooden pole displays the same message in eight different languages including English, Spanish, American Indian and sign language, along with a special ordered Braille plate. The message, “May peace prevail on earth,” serves as a constant reminder to pray for world peace.

A dedication ceremony during this month’s Valleyfest is being finalized. Neither girl will attend the event as they are away at college.

“I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Goold said. “I hope the Valley and surrounding areas will enjoy it.”