The day began early in the morning as we had to take down our tents from a very peaceful night at a scenic campground.
Our first stop of the day was at the Harriet Beecher Stowe School in Brunswick. The hallway was full of colorful artwork on the theme of peace.
We ran into an auditorium full of children from the summer day camp as well as officials of the town who warmly greeted us.
Town Manager John Eldridge had many kind words for the Peace Run as he offered us a beautiful Certificate of Appreciation from the Town of Brunswick.
We offered our presentation to the children as we introduced ourselves through a guessing game.
The children had to guess where we were from individually and then locate our country on the big map of the world.
Someone guessed Nepal, Sweta's home country.
Finding peace in the heart in a moment of silence.
Leah Andreotti, Supervisor of the summer camp here, presents a creative and humorous chant and dance woth the chidlren, called the 'Jellyfish'.
Tom Farrell, Director of Brunswick Parks and Recreation receives our Certificate of Appreciation as Jonathan Fisk, Director of the Summer Camps program holds the Torch. The children are holding a colorful painting by the Founder of the Peace Run, Sri Chinmoy. This colorful abstract painting is appropriately named, 'Peace Feeds the Children.' We are extremely grateful to these organizers and civil servants who went out their way to make this inspiring event happen.
The Town Council members who came to take part in the event offered their kind words of support. We are so grateful that they were able to take time out of their busy schedules to come and inspire us with their experience and goodwill. Their service to the community is essential in establishing a lasting peace in the town of Brunswick.
Smiles of peace and happiness as we go outside to pass the Torch to the children and counselors.
Sweta from Nepal leads the children in a Peace Run around the playground.
Many of the children carried their own handmade Peace 'torches'.
Peace is fun.
Smiles of peace and happiness.
Over 100 peace lovers in front of a giant peace sign made by them.
One of the reporters who came to cover the event. We are very grateful to the media who come to offer good news to the community.
The women's team is back on the road as we carry the Peace Torch towards Portland.
They met some friendly people here at the Creamery Baking CO.
Virangini joined the women's team for the third time during these past four months. She just cannot stay away to enjoy the inner and outer rewards of running for Peace.
On the road again, one of the men's teams met with Ed Suslovic, former Mayor of Portland and an avid runner. He always loves to meet up with the Peace Run as we pass through the Portland area and has joined us many years running, even as Mayor over 10 years ago.
The classic architecture from Portland to Scarborough was quite beautiful. Some of the buildings, like this Gothic style church reflected the European influence here in New England.
A huge motorcycle convention was taking place nearby and hundreds of bikers happened to pass by some of the Peace runners and offer their good wishes.
Mayor Ethan Strimling of Portland comes out to greet some of our runners as well as former Mayor Ed Suslovic, who ran many miles with our team through Portland.
Polly Goodyear shares the Torch at City Hall as well. She has coordinated and organized many of our events in the Portland area over many decades. Her cheerful and sincere self-giving have resulted in tremendous success for the Peace Run here in Maine.
Polly also arranged for us to run into Camp Ketcha in the Town of Scarborough, next to Portland.
Over 100 children and adults gathered at this spacious day camp facility to greet us and share in the Peace Run experience.
As we usually do, we introduced ourselves by having the children guess where we each come from.
Being from Portland, Ed Suslovic had no trouble having the children guess where he is from.
Then they had to find our countries on our huge map of the world.
Some children found it quite easy and peaceful to have a moment of silence to try to consciously experience peace in the heart.
We also offered some of our short skits which demonstrate peaceful and friendly behavior, or just the opposite. The children had to judge what kind of behavior it was.
Nastya from Ukraine celebrates here not so peaceful behavior.
The children offer a song and a dance for us.
The Peace Torch was lit to start the Peace Run around the playground.
Children of all ages shared the Peace Torch as they had fun running for Peace.
Tom Doherty, Executive Director of Camp Ketcha proudly displays our official T- Shirt presented to him for his kindness in helping to arrange for this wonderful ceremony with the children and staff.
Polly Goodyear and Tom Doherty with Ed Suslovic (left), and the women's team by the map of our North American Peace Run route. The event was peaceful and successful because of these organizers and all those who joined them to celebrate and share peace with us in a dynamic and fun way.
One the road again, we enjoyed some beautiful scenic views as we ran down the coastline of Maine.
Many locals offered their friendly smiles and goodwill. Some even made it a point to stop and share the Peace Torch with us.
This local gentleman shared the Torch with Yatkara, our main photographer originally from Ukraine.
Arpan offers some answers to his sincere questions about the Peace Run which gave him and his wife so much joy.
It is very uplifting and encouraging to be greeted by people who just happen to be passing by as we run down the road with the Peace Torch. Some of the locals do stop to find our what we are doing. Many of them are happy to share the Torch and participate in the concept of spreading peace, one person at a time.
