The walkway/river down the middle of this picture goes all the way to the Peace Towers which is the dividing line between the US and Canada.
Walking on the American Side of the Gardens.
The central plaza is all under construction and should be completed later this fall.
The apple blossoms just drew me in with their aromatic perfume!
This was the monument outside the 911 memorial.
Brandon and Tyler at the 911 memorial. Steel beams from the wreckage were brought here as a reminder of all those who lost their lives. It was unbelievably moving to see. The numbers of the floor that they supported are spray painted on the side of each beam.
The red lines on the ground indicate the dividing lines of the two countries. Tyler's actually standing in Canada and the United States at the same time!
The Peace Chapel is in both countries.
The funding of the project began in 1952. At its 30th Triennial Assembly of the Grand Chapter in
1961, it was decided to construct the chapel.
In her inaugural address in 1967, Mrs. Sayda Seyboldl Pettersen, Most Worthy Grand Matron, set
the project as the primary goal of the 1967 - 1970 triennial, requesting that each member assist in
the completion of the chapel.
Construction began in 1969 and the structure was dedicated on July 18, 1970 by Mrs. Pettersen.
The main feature of the chapel is the three-encircling walls of flat sewn limestone into which has
been engraved quotations spoken or written by "people of peace" throughout history. The lettering
receives a continuous wash daylight from the skylights around the perimeter of the chapel.
The limestone is a native stone of Manitoba commonly called Tyndall stone. Some of the stone is
marked with fossils of marine creatures molded in
a bed of tropical sea millions of years ago.
The brick paver floor came from Charleston, West Virginia.
The organ was a gift from the estate of the late R. Donald Stewart, Past Most Worthy Patron, and
his late Jean.
The chapel is non-denominational and open to everyone
There are newspapers from papers all over the world on 9-12. Each of them a grim reminder of a time when peace failed to prevail.
Tyler reading the words of wisdom etched into the walls.
Peace Tower-1983
The four columns represent people coming from the four corners of the world to form
two similar, but distinct nations with a common base of democracy. The four concrete columns
reach a majestic 120 feet into the air. Sets of two columns are joined forming two similar, but
distinct pieces mounted on a solid base The Peace Tower became a reality at a cost of $1.3 million
fifty years after it was listed as an objective by the early garden board. The structure was
completed and dedicated in 1983. One hundred and twenty feet or 37 meters are the height of the
four columns reaching into the spacious skies. The tower’s height represents the early
immigrants’ soaring ambitions. Lifted into place by crane the concrete columns consist of 17 pre-cast
sections each weighing 45,000 pounds a total of 22 tons. The four columns symbolize the four
corners of the earth from which thousands of immigrants arrived into Canada and the United States
in the 1800s and 1900s to build better lives for themselves. Two columns stand in Manitoba and
two in North Dakota, facing each other in two similar, but separate societies. The foundation
stands for one solid base; the two countries common base of democratic beliefs.
Brandon standing in two countries. The spire behind him is the dividing line between Canada and the US.
I promised Brandon that THIS year we would see the Harry Potter movie on it's opening NIGHT. We got our tickets a week ahead....ALL the theaters were SOLD OUT the night of the event and 1000's of people showed up to view the newest movie, The Half Blood Prince!
