On October 11, 2006, exactly one year before Peace Run founder Sri Chinmoy's passing, there was a dedication to establish a Sri Chinmoy Street and a Sri Chinmoy Heart-Garden in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Present for the wonderful ceremony with Sri Chinmoy were (l - r) New York City Councilman Jimmy Gennaro, Assistant Commissioner of Queens Parks Estelle Cooper and Administrator of Flushing Meadows Corona Park and Commissioner of Queens Parks Dorothy Lewandowski.
On that day Sri Chinmoy commented, "You have blessingfully honoured me today by giving the name of the street in my honour. For that I am extremely, extremely grateful to you. But I am having a new experience here. I feel in all sincerity that you have given me the supreme task of lovingly and prayerfully welcoming people who pass every day here. You have given me the opportunity to be a guard on your behalf to welcome them and offer them my and your—our—loving gratitude."
"Every day during my prayers I shall inwardly see and feel that a most beautiful flower is being offered at the feet of this Flushing Meadows Corona Park. This place, this beautiful place, has also a most beautiful and powerful, powerful soul. During my prayers, my morning prayers, I shall offer a beautiful flower at the feet of the soul that here presides over the park."
We had a framed print of that immortal moment on hand at the ceremony.
For our annual 2 mile race we were honored to have two very special race starters. Representing the USA in the Paris Olympics Anne Cebula (left) competed in Fencing while Sunny Choi (right) competed in Breaking.
A moment of silence before the start.
Ready, set, GO!
...and they're off!
Sunny and her dog were all smiles upon completing the distance.
Peace Run Executive Director Salil Wilson welcomed everyone to this year's award presentation. Salil began by sharing a poem by Sri Chinmoy.
"Nature lives Only to reveal God’s Beauty."
On the theme of Sri Chinmoy's poem Salil went on do explore the possibility that perhaps the beauty we find in nature helps reveal the God-Beauty that resides in each human heart.
Ranjana Ghose, President of the Sri Chinmoy Centre, provided a short history of Sri Chinmoy's service in numerous fields including poetry, music, art, and running as well as serving the United Nations. Highlighting the spirit which motivated him and the underlying message of all his activities Ranjana remarked, "Peace was foremost in his attentions and foremost in his actions."
Dr. Agraha very kindly organised today's inspiring ceremony.
Previous Torch-Bearer recipient Coach Ron St. John, Athletic Director & Basketball Coach, York College commented, “I was honoured that Sri Chinmoy chose me to go down in history as one of those people he lifted. He made me feel blessed. He met with every leader in the world! He shared with me some of the conversations he had with these leaders, and it put me on top of the world! When I am with you, you make me feel like I am a special person. I have never seen another person other than Sri Chinmoy who would make you feel such peace inside yourself.”
Torch-Bearer Recipient Coach Jim Hurt, Track & Field Coach, St. John’s University said, “I will always remember Sri Chinmoy coming to St. John’s track to run and throw discus. Sri Chinmoy had a unique running style that was perfect technique with a flowing stride. I will never forget his discipline, and I sometimes thought I wish our athletes had the same discipline that Sri Chinmoy had!”
Rupantar Larusso, Director of the International Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, spoke about Sri Chinmoy's pioneering contribution to the running world particularly in the Ultra-Marathon discipline.
Ranjana and Pranika presented singer Jocelyn B. Smith with the Sri Chinmoy Culture-Light award.
Jocelyn is a great jazz, soul and classical singer who was born in New York where she was classically trained. She has lived in Germany for over 30 years and worked with many great musicians, performing in over 3000 concerts. Jocelyn has been honoured for her social commitment through music by the German President with the Federal Cross of Merit. She has also been active in empowering children through music worldwide and is a recipient of the Beethoven Prize for Human Rights. With her “Higher Love” song project, she teaches and conducts children singers as part of a campaign to stop cluster munitions and inspire oneness. Jocelyn has come to many of Sri Chinmoy’s concerts and her father was lifted by Sri Chinmoy as part of his Lifting Up the World With a Oneness-Heart awards programme.
Jocelyn said, "Sri Chinmoy is with me. He sent gifts to me many years ago when I composed a song called Peace. I never knew that this is how the Supreme takes you on the Path.”
Jocelyn transported us to exalted realms by singing Amazing Grace and the Gayatri mantra.
Our Canadian Peace Run Co-Director Brahmata presented our Torch-Bearer Award to Sunny Choi saying, "Sunny is as bright and inspiring as her name suggests! She was the first American woman to qualify for Olympic breaking and competed in Paris this summer in the Olympic’s first-ever breaking competition. She won the Pan Am Games first Gold Medal in breaking at last year’s games, plus a Silver Medal in the 2022 World Games. Sunny has plans to open a breaking centre here in Queens.
Sunny Choi, Breaking Champion & Olympian responded, “I think it is really important that you make sure that you pour into our own cups so that we can show up for other people. I am just grateful to be here.”
Dr. Ganapati, Peace Run coordinator, introduced Salif Mane, a great Olympic athlete, having won a Gold medal in the triple jump at the Olympic Trials in Eugene this year with a personal best of 17.52 metres and placed 6th in the world at the Paris Olympic Games. He won the national championships for Farleigh Dickinson University and the NCAA championships, having never lost a conference event in the long jump or triple jump. Salif derives his greatest inspiration and peace from his beloved Father, whose precious encouragement he listens to on his phone before every competition.
Salif said “An event like this is really motivating! To see other people come out and run for a purpose, which is peace, is very important, specially at times like this. This is a beautiful event, and I wish you all the best!”
Our US Peace Run Co-director Harita introduced Anne Cebula, saying, "We are happy to welcome a great Olympian in Fencing, Anne Cebula to our event this morning. She is a two-time division national champion in the women’s epee team and participated in this year’s Paris Olympics, placing 7th in the Team Epee. She also plays the piano as a hobby, has a degree in neuroscience from Columbia and regularly uses visualization and music to calm and centre herself."
Anne responded saying, "I was so excited about the Olympics and the Olympic spirit, plus how it is connected to peace here. From a very young age I understood that the world stopped for a little bit and everything was at peace for a while. That is why the Olympics are so special to me. Thank you for having me here today.”
Next Anjali Das, a retired UN staff member introduced Megan Lemley, the Executive Director of the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. The Chorus is one of the most loved and renowned youth choruses in the world. They have won a Grammy Award, plus performed at the United Nations General Assembly Summit of the Future last month, plus with the New York Philharmonic and will be performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic this evening at Carnegie Hall. Megan herself is a lifelong choral singer and a singer in the chamber choir, Ensemble Companio.
Megan graciously commented, “Thank you so much to the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run for your inspiring vision to make the world a better place.”
Our Sri Chinmoy Choir performed two songs that Sri Chinmoy composed for the dedication which took place on October 11, 2006.
"Sri Chinmoy heart-garden Sings oneness-joy-songs, hearken!"
"Sri Chinmoy Street, Sri Chinmoy Street! Loves world-pilgrims’ hearts And admires their feet."
Agraha introduced Coach Sean McClain. He has coached the team that won the Olympic Gold-medal in team foil in Paris, and he coached a Silver medallist in the individual women’s foil. He was a member of the US National Team, having won a silver medal at the Pan Am Championships, plus a National Championship title in both foil and epee. He consistently has produced top-level national and world athletes amongst both men and women. He also coaches at the Fencers Club in Manhattan, the oldest existing organisation in our hemisphere exclusively for fencing.
Sean remarked, “I think this is a wonderful event. I am inspired. I look forward to learning more about Sri Chinmoy and his teachings. I vow to participate in the run next year!”
Bhitihara introduced Marie Adam Ovide who serves as the District Manager for Queens Community Board 8. In that role Marie works with all New York City Agencies to resolve problems residents have with the delivery of government services.
Marie is an experienced public servant having worked for two city council members and 17 years as our district manager. Having received accolades from two borough presidents and two members of the US House of Representatives, Gregory Meeks and Grace Meng, Marie believes good government can bring solutions to citizens' problems.
Marie is quiet and modest and will never say what she has done but as you look around our community you can see her hand in all that has helped us.
Marie accepted the ward saying, “It is an honour to stand here in this garden dedicated to Sri Chinmoy. He lives through his works, words and his vision of peace.”
St. Louis Peace Run Coordinator Nayana introduced Dr. Gerald Mitchell, saying, "One phrase has been heard consistently in regard to Dr. Gerald Mitchell: “Thank God for Dr. Mitchell!”
"A New York City functional medicine specialist with over 40 years of experience, Dr. Mitchell uses chiropractic, applied kinesiology and many other modalities in his quest to help his patients. And helping his patients is his prime goal. He will spend 1-2 hours with each patient, if necessary, and will answer their questions at length and offer suggestions on health concerns between appointments. He constantly participates in seminars to keep abreast of the latest developments and although he could easily be charging at the highest rate, keeps his rates within reach of all."
“I appreciate all the time that I get to spend with such a group as yours. I have never met a nicer group of people – a community and a family – including the work that you are doing and your purpose. I will always cherish this.”
NYC Peace Run Coordinator Kovida, accompanied by 13-time finisher of 3,100 mile Race Suprabha, introduced our final Torch-Bearer recipient Michelle Nero.
Michelle is a 71-1/2 year-young track athlete who competed in the very first and second Colgate Women’s Games in 1974 and 1975 while a student at York College. Michelle was a teacher for 35 years and has been a marathoner for 32 years. She still is competing and winning in many events, specially in the 800m, 1500m and long jump. She bubbles with enthusiasm and is a vibrant testimonial to Sri Chinmoy’s poem:
“An enthusiasm-heart
Defies age limits.”
Michelle said, "To quote Sri Chinmoy, ‘Run and become. Become and run.’ May your positive dreams marry your reality.”
NYC Council Member Jimmy Gennaro joined us for this event which was particularly poignant since he was also in attendance at the inauguration of the Street and Heart-Garden in 2006 with Sri Chinmoy.
Jimmy shared memories from that event and concluded by saying, "Sri Chinmoy's work is now up to us, and we have to stay close to his spirit and maintain that connection to spread his light and love of all things."
We then embarked on a short symbolic Peace Walk along the Sri Chinmoy Peace Street.
Everyone had a chance to hold the torch.
Thank you to all for coming.
