Wellington Rotary To Celebrate World Peace Sept. 21

The Wellington Rotary Club will celebrate the United Nations International Day of Peace this weekend. The celebration will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept 21 at the Wellington Rotary Peace Park, located next to Elbridge Gale Elementary School off Forest Hill near the Wellington library.

Each year, awards are given to elementary schools and high schools in the Wellington area for essays, photos, drawings and more. Two of this years’ most impressive awards are being given to people associated with Palm Beach Central High School.

The first is going to Marianna Gomez for her work with the TAG club and her dedication to eliminating genocide and supporting the children of Darfur by helping to build schools there, as well as other selected areas of the world. She will be receiving the Student Mediator Award for Resolution Tactics (SMART) Award.

The 2014 World Peace Awareness Award will be given to Maureen Holtzer for her body of work teaching Holocaust studies and her communication with other countries in the areas of genocide, bullying, discrimination and general world peace initiatives.

The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office Color Guard will start the event, which will include the national anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance and a proclamation from Wellington Mayor Bob Margolis. The Traditions choir directed by Scott Houchins will sing “We Are the World,” then a peace pole will be planted in the area. Finally, the various awards will be given to students and dignitaries.

It will be the club’s ninth year celebrating the U.N. International Day of Peace. A crowd of 200 to 400 attend each year. Admission is free, but seating is limited.