Flame On!

File under: Good news.

A Brooklyn elementary school on Tuesday became the first school in the nation to host the World Peace Flame.

In a simple sunlit ceremony hosted in Greepoint’s McGolrick oPark, the students of PS110 welcomed their new flame, child of the eternally-burning original World Peace Flame in Bangor, Wales.

Waving ribbons containing each student’s personal wishes for peace (Samples: “I wish for no more wars,” “I wish Donald Trump would go away,” and “I wish FIFA had better soccer players”), the students sang along with music teacher Mr. Monaghan in a rousing rendition of Heal the World, before World Peace Flame ambassador Angela Baker took the stage to explain to the students, and light the ceremonial candle. Even as the elements threatened the delicate flame, Ms. Baker reminded students that, “if the wind is cheeky, and blows our flame out, don’t worry cause the real flame lives in your heart!”

ABOUT THE PEACE FLAME
Originally lit in 1999, the World Peace Flame was established in Bangor, Wales as the brainchild of Mansukh Patel, who, together with some colleagues, conceived the simple, bold symbol of one flame uniting people from all over the world in peace. The titular flame was assembled from 7 distinct flames lit around the world, then transported via state-sponsored military and commercial jetliner to Wales, where it resides in an original monument.

Since then, the flame has travelled to hundreds of further locations in every corner of the globe, and been presented to luminaries and civic bodies including Pope John Paul II, the European Parliament, and even the leaders of the G8. In addition to the original ever-burning flame in Bangor, the World Peace Flame now burns eternally at 23 additional monuments around the world, from Hyderabad, India to Byron Bay, Australia, to the most recent installation in Ashland, Oregon.

However, it is in its work with schools that the World Peace Flame finds its most compelling mission, working with primary students of all ages to promote the message of peace into their day-to-day lives. Using a curriculum collected in the “Peace in Your Hands” teacher’s manual, teachers can spark conversations and impart tools to help elementary school students think about peace, and understand that peace is not simply the absence of war but rather a process of “seeing and acknowledging the positive and the good in yourself and others and promoting it.”

“The flame itself is a symbol on one level; on another level its what brings people together to start the conversations and have the teachings involved,” explains Ms. Baker. “Then there is also the aesthetic; the beauty and metaphysics of it.”

The kids concurred, mostly: “Its purpose is to show peace,” said 3rd-grader Alina. “And we create peace ourselves,” added classmate Holly. “I am the co-creator of peaches,” figured first-grader Poppy

These students of PS110 will now use this flame as a point-of-reference and focus for narratives and philosophies of peace in daily life at school and beyond. Already, in drawing out the whole school to a lovely urban glade on a fine October day, to celebrate and think of Peace with a single point of focus, the flame seems to have done the trick.

As for the million dollar question: No, there will not be an open flame burning 24/7 in a New York City classroom in an old school building in Brooklyn. It may be Peace, but it can’t flaunt the fire-code. The candle residing in the library will be electronic. Not that it matters, 'cause remember: the flame is in your heart!

Special thanks to PS 110 father Christopher Baker (brother of Angela, father of Mathilde - Class 212) and Principal Cano Amato, whose efforts made all of this possible.