MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH — A HISTORIC WORLD POLIO DAY CELEBRATION IN WARM SPRINGS

What an incredible morning of fellowship, history, and Rotary service as Rotary District 6900 celebrated World Polio Day with a very special Peace Pole dedication in Warm Springs, Georgia!

No place is more meaningful for this celebration than Warm Springs—a community forever connected to the fight against polio and the remarkable legacy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

After contracting polio in 1921, FDR discovered the therapeutic benefits of Warm Springs' naturally heated waters. His personal journey led to the establishment of a rehabilitation center that became a beacon of hope for people living with the effects of polio. Warm Springs became known worldwide as a place of healing, determination, and hope.

Today, that same spirit lives on through Rotary's unwavering commitment to END POLIO NOW! Since launching PolioPlus in 1985, Rotary and its global partners have helped reduce wild poliovirus cases by more than 99.9%. But our work is not finished, and Rotary remains committed to a world where no child ever has to suffer from this preventable disease.

ROTARY CLUBS UNITED IN SERVICE AND PEACE

A special thank you to the Rotary Clubs of Meriwether County and North Cobb for partnering to make this meaningful dedication possible! We were also delighted to have Rotarians from the Muscogee-Columbus and Peachtree City Rotary Clubs join us, demonstrating the power of Rotary connections across our district.

FOUR LANGUAGES. ONE MESSAGE. ONE WORLD.

Our new Peace Pole shares the universal message "May Peace Prevail on Earth" on each of its four sides, with every language representing a special connection to this community and Rotary's mission:

English — Honoring our community's primary language and the shared message of peace.

Spanish — Recognizing our region's growing cultural diversity and the importance of welcoming and embracing our neighbors.

Creek (Muscogee) — Honoring the Indigenous heritage of the Muscogee (Creek) people, whose ancestral homelands include this region of Georgia, long before Warm Springs became known for its healing waters.

Italian — Celebrating Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo's historic visit to Warm Springs last year, the first visit by a sitting Rotary International President to this special community.

Peace and polio eradication are deeply connected. Both require cross-border cooperation, respect for every human life, and a shared commitment to building a better future.

As we reflect on Warm Springs' history and the extraordinary progress toward ending polio, today's dedication reminds us that Rotary doesn't just talk about creating hope and peace—we take action to make them possible.

Together, we create lasting impact. Together, we END POLIO NOW. And together, we build peace.