Bensenville in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Peace Pole
Eagle Scout Project
Photographed by Sean Flynn, July 10, 2024
1. The Peace Pole Marker
This six-sided peace pole was designed and completed by Joseph Keehn as an Eagle Scout project and donated to the Bensenville Park District for installation at Breiter-Palm Park. The pole was installed in October 2006 and dedicated April 22, 2007.
The seven-foot-tall pole is custom-made of western red cedar and bears the inscription "May peace prevail on Earth" in Braille as well as six different languages reflecting Bensenville's history: English, German, Polish, Potawatomi, Spanish, and Urdu. The Potawatomi sign is translated as "Let there be peace on Earth."
Keehn collected $2,250 in monetary and material donations from local residents, merchants and community groups to pay for the project. After material donations, the cost of the project was less than $600. Keehn donated the remaining $1,666 he raised to the Bensenville-Wood Dale Food Pantry.
The peace pole was relocated to its current position in summer 2022 in conjunction with the installation of a new playground. The original plexiglass inscriptions were replaced with aluminum ones in spring 2023 after the original sustained damage.
Erected 2023
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is April 22, 2007.
Location. 41° 56.932′ N, 87° 57.127′ W. Marker is in Bensenville, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on South Church Road 0.1 miles north of 2nd Avenue. The marker is in Breiter-Palm Park, on the south end, not far from the playground. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 342 South Church Road, Bensenville IL 60106, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Breiter-Palm Park History (a few steps from this
Photographed by Sean Flynn, July 10, 2024
2. The Peace Pole and marker
Photographed by Sean Flynn, July 10, 2024
3. Breiter-Palm Park
The Peace Pole is on the right side of the photo; the corresponding marker is along the pathway right-center in the picture.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 170 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 11, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
