John Turner with Selma, Alabama Mayor James Perkins, Jr.

The Rotary Club of Selma, Alabama recently participated in the World Friendship Flag Project. Last Friday, leaders of the Selma Rotary Club met with World Friendship Flag Projects CEO and Chattooga County resident John Turner, to show solidarity for the global project.

Turner started the World Friendship Project in 1996 while Rotary Interact Club adviser at Chattooga High School. Since then, he has traveled across the world to promote the project that unites students worldwide to care for the world and address the issue of hunger among children.

Turner, a 77-year-old retired art teacher from Summerville, Georgia, visited Selma last week with a giant version of the World Friendship Flag that he carried while marching across the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge seven times an hour for seven hours each day for seven consecutive days. Despite the heat, Turner said he was dedicated to the cause that exemplifies the spirit of friendship and caring that lies at the heart of The World Friendship Flag Project that he has spearheaded for nearly 30 years.

In statement, Turner said “the partnership between The World Friendship Flag Project and The Selma Rotary Club … serves as a shining example of how collective action and mutual respect can transcend boundaries and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. As we celebrate their dedication and commitment to global friendship, let us be inspired to come together, care for one another, and strive for a more compassionate and connected world.”

While in Selma, Turner also presented the flag to Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr. at the Songs of Selma park.

The flag was designed by Howard Finster, an artist known for designing album covers for famous rock bands including R.E.M. and Talking Heads.