Nine art students from the M. J. Kirwan Elementary School marched on Government House Tuesday, September 21. Their target was Gov. Charles Turnbull and he was looking forward to their visit.
This was a peace march in honor of the United Nations International Day of Peace. Their mission was to present messages of love and peace and an original work of art to the governor.
The march was arranged with the assistance of art teacher Julie Armbruster, who explained the group had been studying peace through art. "Our target," she said, "is one of pro-activism, not re-activism."
She explained the students represented the Class of 2000 and they, "advocate peace between the races and solving problems through understanding and cooperation, without arguing."
As the students passed through the security check at Government House, they chanted, "A new millennium is a time for peace."
After a brief photo session the group was escorted upstairs to meet with the governor. He received them in the Ballroom where he was serenaded with a few choruses of "Let There Be Peace on Earth," and a recitation of selected passages about peace written by the students.
Ten year old Devrelle Dumas created an oil crayon drawing for the governor and explained it depicted a young girl in a war zone amid the destruction of war, dreaming of peace.
Peace was the message for the day and their mission has been accomplished.
They left Government House standing taller and with smiles on their faces. Even the governor left with a spring in his step as he reminded them he was once a teacher and knew how proud Ms. Armbruster was at that moment.
