When the safety of the Dutch royal family was threatened during World War II, Ottawa Canada offered them safe harbor. During their stay, Queen Juliana, then a princess gave birth to a daughter. That day the Canadian Parliament flew the flag of the Netherlands and declared the hospital wing where the child was born to be Dutch territory, so that one day she would be able to inherit her country’s throne. When peace was restored in Europe and her family was able to return home, Queen Juliana began sending thousands of colorful tulip bulbs to Ottawa every year as an expression of her countriy’s gratitude and friendship.
In 1990 in the same spirit, Ottawa presented the United States with a tulip garden in recognition of the lasting friendship between the two countries, and the sharing of the longest undefended border in the world. The international dedication ceremonies inspired the idea and tradition of passing an International Peace Garden each year from one capital city to another, linking countries around the world in peace.
An American composer, Thomas Deering, was moved by this story and dedicated a musical tribute, “Rhapsody in Color” to the young and growing peace garden program. Deering requested that his music be used to provide cultural scholarships for needy students exhibiting promising talent. In 1992 , The International Peace Garden Foundation was established to manage the scholarship program and coordinate the annual passing of the gardens.
The United States chose Warsaw as the next recipient of the Peace Garden to honor their achievement of democracy. Their garden was planted at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Poland followed by selecting Berlin, focusing positive attention on Germany’s recent reunification. In turn, Berlin chose to honor Budapest for the role many Hungarians played in helping to bring down the Berlin Wall. In 1994 a Peace Garden was given to Strasbourg, France in recognition of its contributions in the post-war reconstruction of Europe, and as the home of the Council of Europe. Also in 1994, to commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of D-Day, the Foundation accepted an invitation to plant a Peace Garden at the newly created Garden of Peace in Caen, Normandy – a gentle reminder of the horrors of war and a tribute to the beauty and delicacy of peace.
In 1995, the seventh International Peace Garden recipient was announced: Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovania. The people of Strasbourg wished to express their profound respect for Slovenia, for being a wonderful example of how citizens of many different ethnic backgrounds can co-exist in harmony, and also for their ceaseless efforts on behalf of the refugees of war from the neighboring areas of the former Yugoslavia. Pretoria, South Africa was named as Slovenia’s choice for the site of the eighth International Peace Garden, to honor and acknowledge the end of apartheid in that country. In 1997 a delegation of Foundation members traveled to Pretoria, South Africa to take part in their special dedication ceremonies, and to announce the recipient of the ninth International Peace Garden: Maputo, Mozambique. Since October of 1992 the citizens of Mozambique had made a remarkable transition to peace and democracy, as well as a substantial commitment to rebuilding their country. Maputo chose Costa Rica to host the 1999 International Peace Garden.
The Millennium Peace Garden was celebrated in May of 2000 in front of the Peace Palace in The Hague. It was especially fitting to honor the Netherlands as their gesture of friendship and gratitude had been the inspiration for the International Peace Garden Foundation. The Hague nominated the city of Hiroshima, Japan to receive the garden in 2001. He Hague cited the fact that Hiroshima has been a leader in developing peace education, and is a major supporter of the worldwide movement for disarmament. Hiroshima nominated Vienna, Austria to become the next recipient. Hiroshima hailed Vienna for their efforts to arouse international public opinion for world peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons during their recant A-bomb Exhibition in Vienna. Vienna nominated Rome, Italy to become the year 2003 recipient. Italy fosters global development and resolves to eradicate poverty working to ensure that all the countries of the world benefit from the opportunities created by interdependency and progress. Rome choose Athens the following year. The close ties between the two oldest cultural metropolises of Europe were reconfirmed. The theme of the 2004 Olympic Games moved to work toward peace and reconciliation. In that same spirit Athens nominated Nicosia, Cyprus. The 2005 International Peace Garden carried a special message of hope. It is their wish that Cyprus will find the way to turn over a new page and to resolve the long-lasting problem tormenting its peoples conveying a message of fraternity and peace to the rest of the world and above all to Cyprus. Nicosia nominated Dublin, Ireland for the 2006 International Peace Garden. Ireland is praised for it’s continued presence in UN Peacekeeping Operations & its global outreach programs through Ireland Aid. Dublin, choose to honor Bern, Switzerland as the 2007 recipient. Switzerland has a strong humanitarian tradition and contributes to the development of international good will. Switzerland acts as neutral ground to host sensitive conference meetings – in 2005 Switzerland hosted the Chechen Peace Forum. Switzerland is an active participant of the Conference on Disarmament and became a full member of the United Nations in 2002 after maintaining a permanent observer mission at UN Headquarters since 1948. Bern choose to honor Kyiv, Ukraine with the 2008 International Peace Garden as they celebrate their Days of Independence as a new democracy. In 1992 Ukraine signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and they have taken consistent steps toward reduction of conventional weapons. In 1996 Ukraine became free of nuclear weapons. Ukraine has committed nearly 3000 troops toward peace keeping operations. They are a neutral state. We congratulate Kyiv for winning the bid to host the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship.
The prestigious “Award for the Merits of Two Worlds”, given by the Robert Schuman European Institute of Cultural Integration, was presented to the International Peace Garden Foundation in the year 2000 and accepted by Paula Savage, its founder and President. The award was established to recognize those people and organizations that have contributed most to strengthening of relationships between various communities on an International scale. The European Parliament created the Robert Schuman Institute to further the life mission of the statesman Robert Schuman to assemble the countries of Europe for the development of cultural, economic, and social unity, as well as peaceful relations in the global community.
Each year the Foundation hosts special events to benefit the Foundation’s Cultural Scholarship Fund and its grants to students in Peace Garden countries. In 1995, IPGF introduced a school-to-school international exchange program. It assists U.S. children in making creative connections with students in participating countries through music, writing, literature and art, and “peace gardens” at their schools.
Another Foundation program currently in development is called “Beads of Peace”. American jewelry designers and business professionals offer training to disadvantaged African women so that they can utilize the plentiful resources available in their native countries, resulting in self-sustaining cottage industry. A private citizens’ initiative, the IPGF has volunteer members in many countries who joyfully donate their time and talents. The organization is not affiliated with any religious or political groups, or specific points of view. Annual dedication ceremonies provide an invaluable opportunity for the diplomatic community, local and national officials, and members of the public to gather in celebration of peace. The Foundation sponsors annual public tours to the dedication ceremonies. For additional information please refer to our web site www.ipgf.org.
Tulips have become a special symbol for us. Just as the flower possesses the strength and resilience to break through the once-frozen ground every spring, the Foundation models the same spirit in promoting the growth of friendship and peaceful ties among all people.