As you approach St. Louis you cannot miss this huge and beautiful arch located on the banks of the Mississippi River, called 'The Gateway to the West', dedicated to Thomas Jefferson's vision of westarward expansion. It is the tallest manmade National Monument in the U.S. and houses a Museum below.
In St. Louis our first visit was to the Soldan International Studies High School.
Nayana Hein from New York City organized the events of the day for our team. She grew up in St. Louis and still maintains a good connection here with some of the people we were able to visit today.
In the school we were able to share the torch with some of the employees before the start of our pprogram.
Coach Da'Vionne Johnson and Pierre, from France, at Soldan High School before our program there.
Salil introduces the Peace Run to the hundreds of students who showed up for us.
The school has over 600 students from 20 to 30 Nationalities depending on the year.
Some of the studens were very heartfelt as they held the torch.
We all introduced ourselves by having the students guess which countries we were from, with appropriate clues of course.
A group of students dressed in the customary garb of their countries of origin.
Principal Thomas Cason, holding the Torch, and Vice Principal Chan Tam Trinh, receive some gifts of our appreciation. This colorful painting is by Sri Chinmoy, Founder of the Peace Run.
Some of the students held the torch together in a gesture of unity and friendship.
Lots of smiles and goodwill here.
Students and security guard in a gesture of friendship and oneness.
Making a wish for peace and harmony.
One of the counselors at Soldan School proudly holds the torch and offers his kind words.
Principal Cason and Vice Principal Trinh with some of our team members on the steps Soldan High School. This remarkable magnet school offers some very special programs for students with a focus on international realtions.
Our next stop was the Vedanta Society of St.Louis.
"Truth is One: Sages call It by various names." Symbols of various faiths in a sign of oneness.
Nayana Hein, our local coordinator for St. Louis, offers Swami Chetanananda some books written by Sri Chinmoy, Founder of the Peace Run.
He was very glad to receive them.
Swamiji offers a prayer before feeding us a delicious lunch.
We were delighted that he had cooked for us one of the delicious dishes himself.
Here he is proudly wearing a winter jacket given to him by Ranjana in New York last November when he came for a visit and it was quite cold outside.
We are so grateful to Swami Chetanananda and his staff for their wonderful hospitality. They kindly spent a couple of hours with us, feeding us both outwardly and inwardly.
Singing our Peace Run song for Swamiji.
Swamiji souflfully reads a poem from one of Sri Chinmoy's books both in Bengali and in English.
He also very kindly signed some of the books for us which he authored.
Presenting our Certificate of Appreciation was a real joy although I do not think we could have given enough gratitude to him for all of his time, sweetness and kindness.
Later, in Universal City we had some free time and met some interested people along the way who wanted to share the torch and feelings of peace with us.
Our next stop that afternoon was the remarkable and exciting City Museum.
This incredibly interactive museum offers unique sculptures and challenging routes to navigate.
One large room housed the World's Largest Pencil. This was created 9 years ago to celebrate Sri Chinmoy's 76th birthday and then was donated to the museum soon thereafter.
We were so happy to be able to visit our friends at Circus Harmony at the City Museum. They have hosted us many times during their performances here. Jessica Hentoff, Founder and teacher at Circus Harmony, holds the torch with her daughter Eliana, performer and teacher here as well.
Some of the most recent and young, talented performers.
Chetana Hein and Nayana Hein present Jessica Hentoff(center) of Circus Harmony with our Certificate of Appreciation for welcoming us today.
A very skilled and innovative way to hold the torch by one of the young performers here. Unfortunately our schedule today would not allow us to see the actual show which was scheduled for later in the day.
Jan demonstrates some of his juggliing skills before the evening show.
Some of the employees in the museum were happy to share their smiles and goodwill.
All of our runners had a great time on the slides, tunnels and other challenging displays here.
Saranyu on one of the whale sculptures.
She is a veterinarian and decided to check the teeth of the whale.
Sarankhuu from Mongolian finally reaches the end of one of the longest slides in the country.
Three brave souls who just slid down a ten story winding slide.
Puroga finds some exotic fish in the museum but they refused to hold the torch.
Many student groups come to this museum daily. Onr group took a moment to share the torch with us.
The original whale sculpture which was designed in the earliest days of this vast and remarkable museum.
Watching a video of some of their incredible adventures.
Pierre auditions for the Circus Harmony.
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Carrying the torch the easy way.
Hey, can I read with you?
Scott Bonner, Director of the Ferguson Public Library receives the Peace Run Torch-Bearer Award and holds the torch with us. He was instrumental in turning this small public library into a refuge for families who were affected last year by the civil unrest and protests taking place at the nearby Ferguson Police Station. It was awarded library of the year for its role in serving as a refuge for people in the community.
In the library we offered a short program to some people who attended.
Nayana presents the Certificate of Appreciation to Amy who accepts it gladly on behalf of the Ferguson Library where she works with the children.
A colorful painting called 'Love the Children' by Sri Chinmoy is presented to the Ferguson Library as well.
Delores Haddox, a longtime friend of Nayana and her family, offers her sweet smiles and kind words for the Peace Run. She was honored for her extraordinary self-giving to her family, friends and community.
A local man, Steve, was inspired to share the torch when he saw us at the library. It inspires us tremendously when people stop to find out what we are doing and share their own feelings and thoughts about peace.
We are very grateful to Nayana for all the work she has done for today's events and for the delicious Italian meal she treated us to at Pietro's in St. Louis.
In gratitude offer Nayana an ornate frog cut-out custom-made by Salil, our Executive Director. This is her favorite animal.
Enjoying some special ice cream called frozen custard, at Ted Drewe's nearby.
We are very grateful to Chetana, right, who treated us to this delicious ice cream this evening. She traveled with Nayana all the way from New York to be with us today and help organize today's events, feeding us as well.
Gary Townsend, a former 4:02 miler, was thrilled to meet us here as he was getting some ice cream at Ted Drewe's as well.
Gary and his wife Eileen and daughter Brigid, carrying the torch, take a few steps for peace.
We are grateful to the Townsend family for their kind words and support.
Another wonderful surprise at Ted Drewe's parking lot was when our longtime friend, Doug Kaufman, who has run with us through the St. Louis area many times in past Peace Runs, showed up with his truty dog to meet us and offer his goodwill and kind words.
Doug brought with him two Peace Run t-shirts which runners from the 1997 and 1999 Peace runs had signed for him.
We gave Doug a new shirt and we all signed it as well, hoping to see it again in future Peace Runs when Doug visits or runs with us in the St. Louis area.
Doug and his best friend are all smiles after this short but sweet visit. Seeing longtime friends of the Peace Run evey two years as well as meeting new people each year is truly an uplifting experience for us all.
