Heartfelt thanks to the Holiday Inn Express in Rochester. It was so comfortable and cheerful.
The hotel most generously provided complimentary rooms for the team and have in years past also. We met staff members who remembered the Peace Run from 2024. They have such a family feeling and we felt right at home.
Devendra starts the morning on the Empire State Trail heading towards Syracuse, enjoying beautiful flora and fauna on the way.
Many open-hearted people held the torch and offered their hopes for peace.
Teresa was treating the Ash trees on the trail.
We were so happy to meet Jason.
Town of Elbridge and the Village of Jordan met the team at the Elbridge Elementary School. Many friends and people from the community joined in.
Village of Jordan Mayor Casey Brim joined in. Thank you for coming and sharing your hopes for peace with us!
And Elbridge Town Supervisor Kenneth Bush III offered inspiring words and a Proclamation.
Ken happily received a Certificate of Appreciation from the team and proclaimed August 5th as Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run Day in Elbridge.
Jovana is giving hints to the public to see who can guess her country. Good guess, it's Serbia!
Three beautiful Bush daughters join in with their Dad to hold the Peace Torch.
Daulot's sister Marianne Sandstrom holds the Peace Torch. She and her husband Christopher are dear friends of the Peace Run and will provide accommodations for us tonight, including cooking dinner for everyone!
Thank you Christopher. We love seeing you again.
Councilor of Elbridge Joe Farrugia holds the Peace Torch.
Daulot, a great peace runner since the early days, is leading the runners towards Syracuse.
Meeting people in the neighborhood.
This couple was delighted to hold the Peace Torch and to offer coconut water to the runner passing by their house.
Happy Tavishi, from Australia, on the Erie Canal Trail.
After a fast paced uphill and downhill run by Goga and Violeta to get to our next meeting on time, we are welcomed by Mayor Sharon Owens at the Boys and Girls Club in Syracuse. She's the first African-American Mayor of Syracuse and the second woman Mayor here! Channel 7, ABC affiliate, is happy to share the news of the Peace Torch in the city.
Jim Boeheim, holding the Peace Torch, is a huge fundraiser of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Syracuse, seen here with Club Director Derrick Bacon. The youth under his care were excellent! They were able to guess the countries of the Peace Runners easily, like Latvia, Croatia and Bulgaria. Gints from Latvia was so happy! And thank you Jim. Your service to the youth of Syracuse is incredible.
Thank you for joining us and for holding the Peace Torch! We carry your goodwill and wishes for peace with us as we continue!
The Peace Runners were so happy to be joined by Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens. She is dedicated to her city and to the youth of the Boys and Girls Club here.
Mayor Owens read the by Sri Chinmoy written on Certificate of Appreciation. Thank her for welcoming us so warmly to your city. She truly embodies the poem she read:
"O dreamers of peace, come. Let us walk together. O lovers of peace, come. Let us run together. O servers of peace, come. Let us grow together." Sri Chinmoy
"Just one smile immensely increases the beauty of the universe" Sri Chinmoy
Youth proudly display the Certificate of Appreciation.
Thank you Syracuse! And thank you to Syeisha Byrd, Commissioner of Parks, next to Mayor Owens. Syeisha was so happy to meet the Peace Run and said that she ran with the Peace Torch 30 years ago when the team came to Boys and Girls Club here!
It's time to run with the Peace Torch!
Dinner is getting ready at Marianne and Christopher's!
Marianne by her Peace Pole, while showing us around her stunning garden.
It's a little piece of paradise and so easy to feel peace here!
Christopher is cooking delicious vegan burgers for the team and together with Marianne they serve us a most incredibly nourishing dinner! Their self-giving hearts moved us deeply.
Marianne giving Harita a push on the swing.
We were so happy to camp in such a beautiful field!
We ended the day with some frisbee!
