Today, students at Edmondson Elementary will spread “whirled peace” as art teacher Beth Perthel likes to say. Perthel has organized the Pinwheels for Peace project for six years in celebration of International Day of Peace, Sept. 21.

 “I have been involved in the project for six years and what I like most about it is the thinking behind it and why we do it. It causes people to think about peace. We need peace in the world, and everybody should join together,” fifth grade student Ashley Gracia said.

Each year decorative pinwheels are displayed on the “big hill,” or front school lawn, arranged in a design to symbolize the idea of spreading peace in the world. One year the image signified Olympic rings, one year a flag, another a dove. This year the design shows two children holding the earth with the theme P.E.A.C.E.-- People Everywhere Are Created Equal.

Students spent the last few weeks learning about the project and the theme before finally completing their unique pinwheel piece of art to adorn the lawn. About 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, excited children could be seen placing their carefully constructed pinwheels on the lawn to form the peace design eager to see their pinwheels spin in the wind.

One inspiration for the project’s theme is the ripple effect depicted in artist Keith Haring’s work -- the idea that it only takes one kind act to affect many. The students at Edmondson cast their ripples out into the world by creating 741 pinwheels this year to promote peace.

The students are in good company. They will be celebrating today along with millions of children around the world. Last year, 3.5 million pinwheels were created by school children for the Pinwheels for Peace project, and millions of others of all ages celebrate International Day of Peace around the globe each year.

Perthel said, “I hope that this project provides a way for our students through visual art to experience something bigger than themselves. It is amazing to think that we are a small piece of millions of pieces of art around the world coming together to make a more peaceful world.”

For more information, please visit http://internationaldayofpeace.org or

http://www.pinwheelsforpeace.org/.