World Friendship Flag Project Is Featured In The Heart Of Times Square

World Friendship Flag Project Is Featured In The Heart Of Times Square

In the fall of 2020 Summerville, Georgia emerged as “The Friendship Capital of The World.”  In a ground breaking move, Summerville became the first community to recognize the transformative power of united global friendship, setting a new standard by claiming the “High Moral Ground of World – Wide Friendship.” There is now an annual Friendship Festival held on the last Saturday in July, with a week of friendship activities leading up to the event. The World Friendship Pocket Park is a favorite spot located across from the historic Summerville Depot, where friends gather to share a meal, visit, reflect on the engraved bricks that honor members of the community past and present, and maybe even take advantage of a photo opportunity at the Solid Rock of Friendship.

This status did not happen overnight, nor by mere chance. In fact, the current day story and World Friendship Flag project began back in 1995 in an art classroom at Chattooga High.  An art teacher by the name of John Turner, who also served as a Rotary Interact Club Advisor, shared his inspiration and vision inspired by the late world renowned folk artist Howard Finsterwith his art students and began a project that would gain worldwide recognition during the 1996 Olympics.

In a world divided by differences, this symbol of unity and friendship has quietly, but persistently been on a 40 – year quest to embody the very essence of the best of all worlds.  In pursuit of elevating the World Friendship Flag to a symbol of global goodwill and unity, John Turner recognized the importance of capturing the imagination of people worldwide. With the unwavering support of his wife, Deb, and close friend, Dan Lipscomb, both fellow teachers who shared his passion for making a positive impact, Turner embarked on an extraordinary quest to infuse the Flag of Global Friendship with profound symbolism and purpose. Together these dedicated individuals pooled their collective expertise, creativity, and unwavering commitment to bring the World Friendship Flag to its designated fruition: aiding in the noble cause of feeding the world’s hungry children.

The World Friendship Flag project has exploded over the past five years, with the flag being flown all over the southeast and traveling across the United States to fly at a wide variety of impressive locations. A few of the more iconic locations include Washington DC at the foot of Lady Freedom, The Field of Dreams, Pike’s Peak, Kitty Hawk, SEC Stadiums, and in front of the Nassau Globe at Cape Canaveral, Florida, just to name a few.

Most recently this flag has now been flown and project highlighted in digital form in New York City’s Times Squareabove the Pele’ Soccer Store. The digital ad features the World Friendship Flag Project, along with Mr. Turner’s book God’s Junkman. Elevating their vision to the digital realm to resonate with the now interconnected world, Summerville boldly raised its digital standard in the heart of global advertising at Times Square, New York City. Through the collective efforts and unwavering community support, Summerville has now symbolically broadcasted to the world its unwavering commitment to the spirit of global friendship and unity.  

This story that began right in the heart of our community continues to unfold like a timeless tale of resilience, as a screen play is now being scripted, where every chapter is marked by acts of kindness, mutual understanding and an unwavering solidarity of the people who live and believe in “The Little Town That Could.”