UNA Davis’s Annual Martin Luther King Day Service Project
Following up on an idea that originated with Ray Borton, a significant gift of fifty Peace Rose plants was presented to the City of Davis by the UNA chapter (with Mary Ellen Dolcini as President, as noted on a plaque) in February of 1995 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco. With the assistance of a city employee, board members planted two beds of Peace Rose plants south of 600 A Street.
The roses need to be thoroughly pruned every January and this project has become a regular Martin Luther King Day service assignment for chapter members. Volunteers Laleh Rastegarzadeh, Stephanie DeGraff-Hunt, Shahla Faranak, and Molly Thompson (just elected UNA chapter secretary) were invited for a hearty meal of “Everything” soup and bread at Ray and Verena Bortons’ home on January 14th. Reflecting on this gathering afterwards, Laleh wrote:” I was thinking your soup was a perfect metaphor for a harmonious community! The secret of the nurturing quality of the soup was the abundance of ingredients used (17); similarly the path to a peaceful society is to embrace and cherish the diversity of its members.”
Enjoying “Everything” soup are (l to r) Laleh Rastegarzadeh, Shahla Faranak, Verena Borton, Molly Thompson, Stephanie DeGraff-Hunt and Ray Borton
The six of us then headed down the street armed with clippers and gloves to tackle the roses and deal with muddy soil after the previous day’s rain. Whether working by ourselves or in groups, we enjoyed the feeling of collaboratively completing a task, no matter how uncomfortable the constant bending over was. We left a sizable pile of clippings to be picked up by County employees who take care of the grounds around the rose beds and who appreciate our volunteer work. Shahla wrote later: “As the work we did today gives the Peace Roses a healthier start in the spring, I wish peace and kindness will also spread in the world.”
(l to r) Laleh Rastegarzadeh, Shahla Faranak, Stephanie DeGraff-Hunt, Molly Thompson, Verena Borton, and Ray Borton
Peace is a fragile commodity, but over the years these rose beds have demonstrated that with patience, attention, goodwill and loving care it can and will blossom forth to be an inspiration to all who witness it. We invite you to witness the plants in full bloom by April and May and continuing through the fall months. Next year we shall celebrate thirty years of the beauty and inspiration these plants have given to the citizens of Davis.