VIDEO Feature + Photos: ‘Mill to Mill’ Peace Flag project opening ceremony held on historic Pony Pratt Truss Bridge, unifying and uplifting the Town

TAP Into North Hunterdon
6/16/26
By Rikki Massand

Clinton, NJ – An awesome crowd assembled for an inspiring, calming and community-building event at noon on Sunday, June 14th, just above the flowing waters of the South Branch Raritan River through downtown.

Clinton’s arts, cultural and history institutions – Hunterdon Art Museum and the Red Mill Museum Village – came together and literally provided a bridge as the symbolic backdrop to a celebration of peace. The Town welcomed a crowd for the opening ceremony of the ‘Mill to Mill’ Peace Flag project this weekend, as residents and visitors can easily observe the 1,231 flags in the heart of the vibrant community. Peace flags are hanging together, swaying in the gentle June breeze, and displaying the resolve, connections and positive spirit reverberating across Hunterdon County.

Gina Sampaio, executive director of the Red Mill Museum Village, began the ceremony with her remarks on this groundbreaking arts collaboration.

“Nationally, this project is a part of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a national Semiquincentennial (U.S. 250th) initiative led by the Smithsonian and PBS’ Craft in America. They are focusing on the importance of handmade both throughout history and in contemporary life, so this is a perfect fit for us. Museums are institutions of learning but we usually don’t give homework! But this time, that’s exactly what we did as we asked the public to answer the question, ‘What Does Peace Mean to You?” – and the answer could not be in an essay or a PowerPoint. It had to be in flag form, so this was a really interesting experiment,” she explained.

Sampaio also noted that the project started out with ambitions of getting about 500 total flags back, decorated by anyone who took time to make one. The project circulated from workshops to private venues and local events such as Propagate Studios in High Bridge hosting Red Mill staff outside in mid-April, with a table for Peace Flag making as part of the Art Around High Bridge crawl and event. At times there were Peace Flag-making activities with Red Mill staff on hand at Just Chill on Main Street, at the Hunterdon County Library, and at several other popular places and within group settings. One of the participating local businesses included Courtyard Luxury Senior Living in Clinton as residents took part in flag-making sessions.

Four local clergy leaders shared their words of inspiration and offered prayers and moments of reflection for everyone in attendance. A local student read their poem, and Sunday’s opening ceremony was topped with a cappella music from the Hunterdon Choral Alliance.

Clinton Mayor Janice Kovach presented Sampaio with an official Town Proclamation to commemorate the Mill to Mill Peace Flag project and its impact on the community. She said the landmark display of Peace Flags across town encourages all residents and visitors to reflect on peace and shared humanity.

“I, Janice Kovach, mayor of the Town of Clinton, do hereby proclaim support for the Mill to Mill Peace Flag project in collaboration with the Hunterdon Art Museum and the Red Mill Museum Village. I call upon all citizens of Clinton to participate in or visit this meaningful exhibition; celebrate the artistic and cultural contributions of our local museums, and embrace the message of peace and unity embodied by the flags across the river.”

Also in attendance for the opening ceremony were Town Council members John Kashwick, Molly Padmos and Ross Traphagen.

At Sunday’s opening ceremony, Jeanne Brasile, executive director of the Hunterdon Art Museum, shared a message of inspiration with everyone gathered. “What’s really affirming is the participation of all the different groups – church groups, scouting groups, schoolchildren, textile guilds, professional organizations, senior centers, and so many community groups. The response was really overwhelming, and I think now more than ever we need this message of peace – thank you for bringing peace and the message of peace to the community!”

Check out our video and photo gallery from Sunday!

Original article here.