BY MONA BLOOM | OTISFIELD Twenty-six flags are waving at Seeds of Peace, Maine’s internationally acclaimed youth camp, but one is still missing.
“Every one keeps asking me what’s with the empty flag pole,” said Leslie Adelson, program director recently. “I’m waiting for a Fed Ex truck.”
The transitional government of Afghanistan is sending its new official flag to the Maine summer camp that is dedicated to international conflict resolution, by way of its diplomatic embassy in Washington.
At 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26, Seeds of Peace will hold its official flag-raising ceremony outside the main entrance of the camp facility. During the ceremony each delegation will sing its national anthem. This will be the first year that Afghan youth will be present at the opening ceremony. The public is invited to attend.
The raising of the flag holds great significance, not only to the visiting delegations, but also to John Wallach, President and Founder of Seeds of Peace, according to a press release from the camp.
“The past year we have watched the suffering of Israeli and Palestinian, Indian and Pakistani, and Afghan people as their countries struggle through war,” said Wallach.
“Amazingly, at the Seeds of Peace Camp, all these countries will be represented … it is only at our camp where Israeli and Palestinian, and Indian and Pakistani are actually meeting, cooperation, and learning the skills to make peace with ‘the enemy.’”