The flag of the United Nations is flying over the City of Platteville throughout October in the 40th annual recognition of United Nations Month.

Dick Rundell led members of the community in a recognition of our country’s participation in the United Nations in a flag-raising ceremony Monday morning. Platteville Police Officer Jacob Brown helped raise the UN flag to the music of Aaron Copeland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man.”

United Nations Month was created in 1947 with the purpose to bring all nations of the world together to work for peace and development, based on the principles of justice, human dignity and well-being of all people. It affords the opportunity for countries to balance global interdependence and national interests when addressing international problems.

The United Nations provides services in the areas of education, emergency relief for children, refugee assistance, agriculture, health and economic development. Because of the rapid and unsettling transition to a global community, the United Nations is developing the active promotions of preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and peace keeping; the foundation for the rule of world law; the protection of human rights; and the placing of the suffering of people above national sovereignty.

Community organizations were represented including  American Legion Post 42 and the American Legion Auxiliary, Boy Scout troops 82 and 84, Cub Scout Pack 83, Badgerland Girl Scouts Troop 5410, Dana Harkness and Allister Harkness, and the Model UN club at Platteville High School.

Rachel Demaree of the PHS Model UN Club spoke of her experience repreenting Morrocco and Japan in the Model United Nations Conference in Iowa, and how that gave her an understanding of different world views. She will continue in the PHS club for this year representing another country at the conference.