By Mike Pettinella
For Video News Service
Four citizens of Central Europe carried the “Peace Torch” to the City of Batavia on Thursday afternoon as part of the Sri Chinmoy-Home Peace Run, a four-month North American journey starting and ending in New York City.
Gianluca Marangon of Croatia, Edgars Ancans of Latvia, Mahasatya Janczak of Poland and Dalibor Ficek of Slovakia stopped at the Batavia Peace Garden on West Main Street in the midst of the day’s 93-mile leg from Buffalo to Egypt, a hamlet of Perinton in Monroe County.
Batavia Peace Garden welcomed Sri Chinmoy-Home Peace Run participants on Thursday afternoon. From left are Nancy Gannon, Diana Bogue, Gianluca Marangon of Croatia, Alex Wetmore, Edgars Ancans of Latvia, Carolyn Epps, Barb Toal and Mahasatya Janczak of Poland.
During their short stay, they spread a message of peace and love and posed for photos with Batavia Peace Garden volunteers Barb Toal, Diana Bogue, Nancy Gannon, Carolyn Epps and Alex Wetmore.
Marangon presented a certificate of appreciation to Toal and asked her to hold the torch while he said a few words.
“When you hold this torch, we ask people to make a wish or a prayer for peace, and we feel that we are carrying them inside our hears, but also inside the flame,” he said. “And when we pass it on, you receive those prayers and wishes.”
He said that thousands of people have held the torch not only in the United States but around the world.
“We’ve (Sri Chinmoy participants) have been to more than 160 countries since 1987 (when the run started),” he said.
Marangon then requested that Toal read the poem on the certificate.
“Peace does not mean the absence of war,” she read. “Peace means the presence of harmony, love, oneness and satisfaction. Peace means a flood of love in the world-family.”
Toal said this was the second time Sri Chinmoy-Home Peace Run enthusiasts have visited the Batavia Peace Garden.
Chinmoy, a native of India, advocated for peace throughout the world up until the time of his death in 2007 at the age of 76. His work spanned five decades and was recognized by leaders such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa.
Barb Toal, Batavia Peace Garden president, holds the torch as she poses with Gianluca Marangon, Mahasatya Janczak, Edgars Ancans and Diana Bogue. Photos by Mike Pettinella.
This year’s relay started in New York City on April 15, headed south to Florida, west to the Pacific Coast, to northwest Canada and back to the U.S. Stops are planned for Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut before ending in the Big Apple on Aug. 17.
Video clip of a quick hello from the runners on Thursday afternoon/Video/photos Mike Pettinella
Toal said the peace run aligns with the mission of the Batavia Peace Garden, which broke ground in 2011 and has become an escape for reflection and prayer in an area east of the Holland Land Office and also behind the Genesee County Court Facility. She said a third phase will include a portion of Ellicott Trail.
“Our whole idea is to bring to the forefront, especially with all of our conditions in today’s world, of what’s happening,” she said. “Our mission is to have peace filter through the whole region and through the whole world. And when they drive by this garden, I hope they get that peaceful feeling.”
The local peace garden features benches and flags of the countries of the world. Toal send it is affiliated with the International Peace Garden, which is led by Batavia resident Paula Savage.