We had a wonderful nights stay at Bliss Palace!
A breakfast for queens!
A big thank you to Putrima and Gagana for hosting our entire team at their beautiful home, Bliss Palace. What a perfect start to our second day!
We entered Pennsylvania today!
Our first event of the day was a visit to McCall School in Philadelphia. We have been to this school several times before and were happy to be there again1
Many of the children had prepared beautiful artwork for us on the theme of peace.
Singing the World Harmony Run Song with actions!
Passing the torch, many kids were very soulful when they held the torch.
A big thank you to all the teachers and students at McCall for so enthusiastically participating in the run!
A big team shot with all the kids and team!
We ran through Philadelphia to our next school of the day, Girard College.
A statue outside depicting Stephen Girard, who left a large endowment to the vision of providing education to underprivileged children.
The team running in with an escort vehicle.
We received a very enthusiastic welcome from the students!
We were thrilled that Putrima joined our team for the day!
The country guessing game, everyone always guesses Australia!
These kids led all the kids singing a rousing rendition of the school song!
Feeling peace in our hearts.
Time to run!
Its always so special to pass the torch and all take some time to share our hopes and prayers for peace. Pictured behind is School Principal, Jessica Heintz. A big thank you to her and everyone who made our visit possible!
These track students ran out of the college with us, they had to run slow!
A big thank you to Guy Moore, director of Athletics, who ran with us and helped facilitate our visit.
We paused to meditate on the Liberty Bell on our way to Independence Hall.
With the famous Liberty Bell.
Meeting peace lovers along the way.
We were happy to learn this month is Autism Awareness month.
Pragati, our mighty coordinator for Philadelphia, welcomed our team and international contingent to Independence Hall.
Passing the torch.
This is the historic location where the Declaration of Independence was first announced to the people on 4th July 1776.
We all took a tour of Independence Hall. This is the room where it all happened! Following are some photos of inside the hall.
Our final event of the day was to be part of a special concert at Christ Church entitled Songs of Peace. This is a very historic Church both for its architecture and also because Christ Church's congregation included 15 signers of the Declaration of Independence. American Revolutionary War leaders who attended Christ Church include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Morris, Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross.
Paree's Group, 36 singers from many different countries, came to Philadelphia especially to perform an a cappella concert of a selection of Sri Chinmoy's songs. It was so beautiful!
The concert was a powerful expression of the beauty and power of peace. We were thrilled to be part of it!
After the concert, we gave a short presentation about the Peace Run.
We all introduced our countries.
After the concert, we took the torch outside and everyone had the chance to hold it and share their own hearts yearnings for peace.
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia. O sweet city of brotherly love. O God-perfection below, above. Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia. Your world-attention Liberty Bell Proclaimed the death of our bondage-hell. O freedom-lovers' utopia! Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia. - the words to a song by Sri Chinmoy -
