Oak Ridge Girl Scouts plant irises for peace, in memory of Shigeko Uppuluri

Jerry Luckmann
·1 min read

Girl Scouts from Oak Ridge troops gathered for the International Day of Peace, Sept. 21, to plant an iris garden at the Friendship Bell in Bissell Park.

Clara Fisher and friends in the Girl Scouts plant irises in memory of Shigeko Uppuluri on the International Day of Peace.
Clara Fisher and friends in the Girl Scouts plant irises in memory of Shigeko Uppuluri on the International Day of Peace.

Girls representing all Girl Scout levels, from Daisies in kindergarten to Ambassadors in high school, planted irises in memory of Shigeko Uppuluri, who died earlier this year.

Shigeko, who was instrumental in bringing the Friendship Bell from Japan, tended an iris garden at the original bell site before the bell was moved to the current Peace Pavilion.

Some of the irises in the garden were sent by the Japanese Girl Scout Troop in the Oak Ridge sister city of Naka Shi, Japan. Others were donated by Girl Scouts and Oak Ridge residents.

Oak Ridge Girl Scouts have celebrated World Peace Day at the Friendship Bell for 10 years. In the past, girls have painted rocks, made pinwheels, held a peace demonstration, and painted peace poles.

The Girl Scouts planted a banner telling passersby the reason for their planting of irises at the International Friendship Bell garden at A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge.
The Girl Scouts planted a banner telling passersby the reason for their planting of irises at the International Friendship Bell garden at A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge.
Alyssa Sacala plants irises.
Alyssa Sacala plants irises.
Kaelynn Ramseier plants irises.
Kaelynn Ramseier plants irises.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Oak Ridge Girl Scouts plant irises for peace, in memory of Uppuluri