FRAMINGHAM, MA -- In 1946, a United Nations search committee, accompanied by Governor Maurice Tobin visited Framingham. The committee inspected the Doeskin Hill area as a possible site for the permanent location for the United Nations. Back then, the idea was to find a relatively unpopulated convenient location to build a small United Nations city.

While the committee was impressed, Henry Dennison, who lived on Doeskin, and Henry Ford, who owned much of the land under consideration, objected.

The United Nations home base was eventually determined when John D. Rockefeller, Jr. donated money and land in New York City to establish its headquarters.

On Sunday, May 17th, U.N. representatives will again visit Framingham as Ambassador Anwarul Karim Chowdhury, U.N. Under-secretary-General will be speaking at the Memorial Building.

The event, called "The United Nations comes to Framingham," begin at 2 p.m. at Nevins Hall, and will feature a procession of flags of the United Nations members, the dedication of an 8-foot United Nations Peace Pole, an interfaith peace ceremony, and Chowdhury, who will speak about the importance of peace in the world.

A military honor guard, town officials, civic organizations and state representatives will be present. There will also be musical entertainment.

All and welcome and admission is free, although people are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to local food banks, and a $5 donation to benefit the Framingham Tax Relief Fund.

This U.N. event is being brought to Framingham by Nicholas Paganella, Earl Fahey and David Cohen whose goal is to provide free and meaningful entertainment to families.

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