After a wonderful nights rest at the Days Inn Wilmington-Newark the runners were ready to run. They tried to get our hotel hostess to come but once through the parking lot was all she could do for the day. Next time!

The day began with a bleak overcast sky as the women’s team ran into the very welcoming town of Rising Sun, Maryland. Just the name of this town evokes enthusiasm and newness, no matter what the outside weather is like.

Rising Sun certainly lived up to their name as we were greeted by Mayor Judith Cox at the Rising Sun Elementary School along with the teachers, staff, Superintendent of Schools and Board of Education members.

It was a real thrill to follow Mayor Cox into the auditorium of about 400 children and over 20 teachers and staff singing our World Harmony Run Theme song.

Most of the time, we sing this song to the children at the end of our program with the hope of having them sing along with us.

 

But this time they surprised us as they were so beautifully led by the music teacher, who enthusiastically played along on the piano.

During our presentation there were about 20 children standing behind us on the stage, each holding a flag of a different country that they themselves made.

Some of the children on this day were also dressed in traditional costumes of their respective country for the program.

This diversity of flags and attire fit very nicely well with the Logo for the UN and UNESCO Year 2010 which is on the run banner this year. The Harmony Run supports the goals of the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures: reaching out to others, sharing and appreciating our cultural diversity is very important.

Mayor Cox read out a wonderful proclamation in which she stated: "Thereby, on behalf of the Town of Rising Sun and the surrounding community, I am please to recognize the World Harmony Run 2010 and to proclaim this day as the day that each and every individual may begin their Individual Quest for Peace. Proclaimed and sealed this 21ST day of April 2010".

The children showed much eagerness to participate in the days program

 

We had a chance to all feel a moment of harmony or peace together.

A team photographer in the middle was impressed by all the inspiring experiences of the event.

 

After our presentation and song where everyone joined in again, we had a wonderfully inspiring speech by Henry Shaffer, Cecil County Superintendent of Schools.

He told everyone that he has two prayers that he says every night before going to bed:

• That he makes proper decisions for the good of the children every day and
• that there be peace on earth.

It was quite a sight to see so many different flags being displayed at the school which fit perfecty with the theme of the Harmony Run, appreciation of cultural diversity and the year 2010 mentioned above. 

Before the children filed out of the auditorium, they each had a chance to touch or hold the Torch and offer a moment of silence or a nice thought that we could pass on to the next community.

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Seeing Countries for Classes 

We then had the privilege of getting to see some classrooms.

Which were happy to show us the country they had been studying (Iceland).

A tour of the hallways gave a good indication of how  the children decorated their classroom doors in various ways with a theme of a country (Spain).

Not only was it an educational experience for them and for visitors (Romania).

But it was also quite a creative (Costa Rica).

And educational as well as aesthetic project (Puerto Rico).

Visit our gallery to see more of them! (Hungary)

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 Thank You

We also want to thank Lorraine Bell, one of the teachers, who took on the task of organizing some of these events, as well as school Principal Carol Roberts and her Assistant Principal Katherine Derby. Donna Zane, from the School Board of Education, also offered her support and kind presence at the school.

We would like to thank our good friend and long time Harmony Run supporter, Chandini Bachman, for arranging for this amazingly inspiring ceremony. We will be talking about Rising Sun the rest of the journey!

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TV Interview

Later, while running through Baltimore, Atulya was interviewed by NBC. The reporter was able to film him in two different locations in the city. Thank you for such a great effort!

That night the men's team rested their weary legs and heads at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Center and the Sheraton Inner Harbor. Our hosts were very gracious and we were very grateful.

Thanks to a runner friend of ours Ronnie Wong, we were able to enjoy a very nice Thai meal at the Thai Noodle Bowl. His friends Richard and June Wong offered us a kind discount.

That's all for today...

– Arpan, Chandini and others

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Distance: 64 miles

Team Members:
Arpan DeAngelo (New York), Atulya Lee Berube (San Diego), Dhavala Stott (Scotland), Shyamala Stott (Scotland), Yuyudhan Hoppe (Minnesota), Gabriel (Canada), Mark Collison (England), Kshetragna Ulanova (Russia), Surya Smolennikova (Russia), Abhejali (Czech Republic), Drsalu Gruenstaeudl (Austria), Vladimir Salnicov (Moldova), Chandini Bachman,

Harmonemail:
You can send a message to the runners or read the messages.

Gallery: See more images!

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