04 October 2014 - The 36th Anniversary of Peace Day in Chicago was celebrated on September 19 in Chicago’s Daley Center Plaza, with the personnel of the Philippine Consulate General, members of the Consular Corps in Chicago and Peace Day supporters and partners in attendance.
A program commemorating the day's event began at 11:00 a.m. at the Daley Center Plaza on the corner of Dearborn and Washington Street in front of Chicago City Hall. The event started with an introduction of the participating Consulates, with Consul General Generoso D.G. Calonge recognized for the Philippines. A minute of silence for peace immediately followed. Messages from Chicago City Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn were read by representatives of the Chicago Commission on Human Rights and the Illinois Department of Human Rights, respectively.
A parade of flags representing all countries under the United Nations was held, with Vice Consul Ricarte Abejuela III bearing the flag for the Philippines. El Salvador Consul General Patricia Maza-Pittsford, Dean of the Consular Corps, then gave her message to the big audience.
The one-hour program ended with a community singing of the Peace Day’s “Right to Peace Sing-Along.”
Peace Day in Chicago was started in 07 Sep 1978, while in 2001, the United Nations established September 21 as Peace Day, an annual day of non-violence and ceasefire especially in war-torn areas. END
