Dedication planned during Wednesday's city band concert in Chautauqua Park
WORTHINGTON -- After a lengthy hiatus, Worthington's Peace Avenue of Flags is being resurrected in time for Flag Day on June 14.
More than 70 flags representing the nationalities of Nobles County's diverse ethnic makeup will be flown through Turkey Day weekend this year, and from Memorial Day through Turkey Day in the years to come.
The flags will follow U.S. 59 south of Interstate 90 to Oxford Street, and then extend west to McMillan Street and east to Omaha Avenue. The original Peace Avenue of Flags was located only along U.S. 59.
It was back in 1971 -- 39 years ago -- when the original Peace Avenue of Flags was dedicated in the community. The idea behind the project was to promote world peace, understanding and brotherhood, and grew out of the Worthington and Crailsheim, Germany, sister city arrangement that began in 1947. In 1959, the city's international relations efforts were recognized through its selection as a winner of the World Brotherhood Award.
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When the original Peace Avenue was dedicated during the King Turkey Day celebration in September 1971, it featured the only complete set of United Nations flags to fly west of the United Nations Plaza in New York, N.Y.
Brenda Hurlbut chairs the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce's Community Improvement Committee that led the resurrection of Peace Avenue of Flags. During a gathering Thursday afternoon to attach the new flags to their poles, she said the group is thrilled to have the financial support of local businesses and organizations. It will cost approximately $5,000 annually to maintain the flags.
"About a year ago we started talking about this," said Hurlbut.
In the months that followed, the group gathered information from the Nobles County Integration Collaborative, District 518 Community Education and JBS to identify the nationalities represented in the county.
"We're trying to have a good representation of our community," said Hurlbut, adding that they don't quite have flags to represent all of the countries from which Worthington residents hail.
"We really wanted to emphasize ... our diverse community," she said. "(From) Swedes, Norwegians and Germans -- it's all our nationalities."
The flags will be dedicated during the Amazing Worthington City Band concert intermission next Wednesday at Chautauqua Park in Worthington. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
"We will be kicking it off with a human parade of flags," said Hurlbut. "We're just very excited about it and proud that Worthington is willing to support the project again."
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Employees of the City of Worthington and Worthington Public Utilities will be raising the flags along U.S. 59 and Oxford Street in the days following the dedication.
A list of the flags to be flown along Peace Avenue of Flags can soon be viewed at www.worthingtonmnchamber.com . Flags representing additional countries will be considered. If a Nobles County resident's native country is not represented, they are urged to call the Chamber at 372-2919.
