U Thant Island Dedicated – Sep 1977 – DETAILS + PHOTOS - Historical Repository for Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations

U Thant Island Dedicated – Sep 1977 – DETAILS + PHOTOS

Filed under Thoughts from the UN community. | Tributes and Expressions of appreciation

On 16 September 1977 the Meditation Group at the United Nations dedicated a small island in the East River, adjacent to U.N. Headquarters, to the memory of the late Secretary-General U Thant.

State authorities gave permission for the Meditation Group to beautify the island and build a monument, with Governor Hugh Carey sending an official letter of soulful dedication to U Thant ¡island, citing U Thant’s work for world peace.

The dedication ceremonies, held on what turned out to be a rainy but calm Friday afternoon, included the burying of a metal box or cornerstone, which contained a gold pen and tie clasp belonging to U Thant, as well as various significant artifacts and documents from the U.N., government officials, the Meditation Group and its leader, Sri Chinmoy, a personal friend of the late Secretary-General.

Members of U Thant’s family were present, with his daughter, Mrs. Aye Aye Myint-U unveiling the Plaque. Representing the U. N . Security and Safety Service was Officer Carlos Stozek, one of Officers who worked closely with U Thant, who broke ground for the cornerstone.

The short programme opened with a silent invocation by Sri Chinmoy. Commemoration by the speakers follows :

EXECUTIVE CHAMBER

ALBANY 12224

HUGH L. CAREY

Governor

September 16, 1977

Dear Mr. Chinmoy:

I commend you and the Meditation Group at the United Nations on your dedication today of U Thant Island, a symbol of world peace. It is right that this Island be named after the late Secretary General U Thant who labored so hard and so long to achieve world peace.

U Thant will be remembered by all who knew him both in his homeland of Burma and at the United Nations. He was a gentle and dedicated roan of whom all mankind i5 proud. The United Nations was greatly strengthened by his actions.

I share your hope and dream that U Thant Is l and will remind us all of the never-ending and essential quest for peace around the World.

Sincerely,

Hugh Carey ( Signed)

Sri Chinmoy

Meditation Group at the United Nations

United nations

New York, New York 10017

Ms. Sylvia Fuhrman, Special Representative 0f the Secretary General, United Nations International School:

I am Sylvia Fuhrman. U Thant asked me originally to do something for the United Nations International School and appointed me as his Special Representative to do so. We were also good friends. I have very deep affection that I will always carry with me for U Thant. We had an official relationship, of course, and I’ve been asked to read the statement that’s being interred in the ground about that relationship. But just as important to me was the personal relationship: when we would discuss architects and plumbers when he was building his house in Harrison ; when we would discuss children at the School with personal problems ; when he asked to visit the new building which he was so responsible for getting for the School. This was after he retired from the United Nations, but his interest in students, in education and in the United Nations International School continued . And so we did, indeed, make an informal visit after that to the School, where he pitched pennies with the students to help them in raising funds for a ping-pong table. After the fun and games we discussed very serious matters about the School. He was fully confident that all matters relating to the School could be handled: the ping-pong tables of course, but also the matters of building, of funding, of international education being accepted world-wide were of very much importance to him.

Because of the rain I don’t want to speak too long, but I will read the statement that is going to be in the ground with a lovely photograph of U Thant at the School, as well as the United Nations hymn which he commissioned from Pablo Casals and W.H. Auden. I had the happy chore of being his emissary for that. I know that lovely music will last forever and will always be a reminder of U Thant.

UNITED NATIONS • NATIONS UNIES

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ECOLE INTERNATIONALE

Mrs. Murray Fuhrman, Special Representative of the Secretary-General

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CHAIRMAN: Mr. C. V. Narasjmhan

VICE·CHAIRMEN: H,E. Mr. Isao Abe; H.E. Mr, Abdalle Yaccoub Bishara; Mr . George F. Davidson; M. Jacques Lecompt; Mr. Stanley C. Lesser; Mr. Bohdan Lewandowski; Mrs. Rosa Orenstein; H.E. Mr. Willlam W. Scranton

SECRETARY :Mr. R. K. Basu

TREASURER: Mr. Thomas A. Bieler

MEMBERS: Mr. Abdulrahim A. Farah; Mrs. Murrav Fuhrman; Mrs. Joyel Egginton Longmire; Mr. E. Paul Mwaluko; Mr. J . Peler Prins; Mr. W. H. Ziehl; Mr. Bernardo Zuleta

DIRECTOR: Mr.John H. Bruce

In 1967, U Thant received the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding. The Award involved a substantial sum of money which the Secretary-General turned over to the United Nations International School. UNIS used it to establish a scholarship award in his name for a student whose parent is a UN staff member. Since this award is given each year, all those connected with UNIS know of it. Few know, however of the honoraria for articles or speeches that benefited UNIS. This generous awareness on the part of an extremely busy and by no means wealthy man, ‘was a true indication of his unfailing support of and dedication to the idea and ideals of international education. He was indeed deeply involved with the School and , during his ten years as Secretary-General and after his retirement, showed it in every possible way. A request to use h i s good offices on its behalf was always certain of acceptance.

He believed firmly that teachers, in his own words, “have to play a very important and significant role … in peace keeping, and peace building. Himself an educator for twenty years, he came to the conclusion that in order to fashion a society, to mold a new generation in keeping with the times , three things were necessary — mental growth, spiritual growth, and development of a social sense — in other words, education for citizenship.”

U Thant believed, as he said, that to support the School was “to forward the principles of internati0nal understanding enumerated in the UN Charter. His own support was unstinting.

14 September 1977

Mr. Donald Keys. Representative) Planetary Citizens :

I am Donald Keys. As has been said, U Thant was first and foremost an educator. Little did he realize to what extent that would be true. He was not only an educator of school children, university people, he became an educator of heads of state, of governmental representatives. He became an educator of nations in the ways of peace, compassion, tolerance, perseverance, harmonization. He became an educator, not only and perhaps not primarily, by what he did but by being the person that he was. This is attested to over and over again by those who knew him and even by those who did not know him. So it is a great privilege to join today in the establishment of this particular spot as a shrine to our most exalted educator. Thank you .

1977-09-16sep-UN-U-Thant-island-Don-Keys-addesses-group-scaled.

Mr. Donald Keys addresses the gathering on U Thant island.

Ms. Nancy Neal, Department of Ports and Terminals, City of New York : Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Nancy Neal. I’m here representing Commissioner Mastriani of the Department of Ports and Terminals, who sends his regrets that he can’t make it today. He toId me to tell you that he’s very proud to be involved in this ceremony and that a11 of New York is honoured that the United Nations is situated here on our waterfront. Thank you.

Mr. Adhiratha Kevin Keefe, UNICEF: Representing the “International Year of the Child” Secretariat,

1977-09-16sep-UN-U-Thant-island-a-keefe.

I would like to say how deeply honoured we are to be a part of today’s ceremony. UNICEF has been designated as the lead Coordinating Agency for the Year of the Child.

I feel the statement made by U Thant when UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965 shows that he would be very happy that the International Year of the Child is represented here today :

“UNICEF .. . has now become established as one of the most meritorious agencies of the United Nations which has earned the unstinted support of men and women all over the world. Its devotion to the welfare of children and mothers everywhere reflects a concern for the younger generation which we all must share.” Thank you.

The Meditation Group at the U. N. Choir dedicated a song by Sri Chinmoy to U Thant, after which Mrs. Myint-U unveiled the plaque.

1977-09-16sep-UN-U-Thant-island-u-thant-family-plaque-Dr-Mrs=-Myint-U-son-Thant

Dr. and Mrs. Myint-U and their son, Thant after the unveiling of the Plaque.

Officer Carlos Stozek :

My name is Carlos Stozek and it is a great privilege and a great honour for me to be here during this very happy moment for all of us who loved U Thant, who respected and thought of him as a great human being. I believe all of us are very happy to be here today. I am representing the Security and Safety Service, Colonel Trimble and especially three of my colleagues who worked very closely with U Thant: Mr. Isaac Edwards, Mr. Florino Squillace and Mr. Joseph C. Agazi. I believe I shouldn’t keep you too long in the rain-we are having very bad weather here – so I think we should break ground now. Thank you.

1977-09-16sep-UN-U-Thant-island-officer-Carlos Stozek-rep-un-security-safety

ENSHRINED IN THE CORNERSTONE

– Personal artifacts:

A gold pen and tie clasp belonging to U Thant,

both inscribed with his name.

– Commemorative offerings

-Photograph of U Thant and Sri Chinmoy
-Book: “U Thant: Divinity’s Smile-Humanity’s Cry”-Sri Chinmoy
-Pamphlet: “The Example of a Great Ethical Statesman: U Thant” – Robert Muller
-Flag of the United Nations
– American Flag
-Flag of the State of New York
– Reproduction of official letter of soulful dedication from the Honourable Hugh Carey, Governor of New York State, on the lije of U Thant, the dedication of U Thant Island and the world·service of the United Nations
– Copy of permit to beautify U Thant Island issued ‘by New York State, Real Estate Division
– Peace Meditation Group at the UN banner
-Photograph of U Thant at the United Nations International School and historical record of U Thant ‘s close relationship to the school
– UNICEF emblem and emblem of the International Year of the Child
-Resolution A/Res./311169 of the 31st Session ofthe General Assembly proclaiming 1979 as the Year ofthe Child (14 February 1977)
– Insignia and historical record of New York City’s waterways (New York City Police Department, Harbor Unit)
-Insignia and Statement of Purpose of the Marine Division, Fire Department, City of New York)
– Photograph of U Thant Island
– Copy of letter of support from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
1977-09-16sep-UN-U-Thant-island-bust-of-uthant-plaque
– Small bust of U Thant by Mazzone in bas-relief – “Marmo tenero verde cipollino” (Sculpture in tender green onyx)
-Song sheet: “Hymn to the United Nations, ” music by Pablo Casals, poem by w.H. Auden
– Songbook dedicated to the soul of the United Nations: Peace Meditation Group at the United Nations