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Retired teacher John Turner of Summerville, Georgia, spent a week in Selma walking the Edmund Pettus Bridge, carrying the World Friendship Flag across the bridge.

Turner, 77, embarked on this symbolic journey by traversing the bridge seven times per hour for seven hours a day for seven days. The dream culminated when he was able to present Mayor James Perkins Jr. with a $700 check to support efforts to feed hungry children in the community. Through this act of generosity and goodwill, Turner sought to demonstrate the power of unity and compassion in bringing people together and making a positive impact on the lives of those in need. 

Turner’s final day was July 4, Independence Day. Summerville, Georgia, was once known as Selma, and Turner called his hometown the sister city of Selma.

For those interested in learning more about Turner’s inspiring World Friendship Flag Project and his ongoing mission to spread a message of unity and friendship across the globe, a simple Google search for “World Friendship Flag Project” will reveal the depth and breadth of his impactful work. As John Turner’s footsteps echoed across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, each step symbolized a commitment to justice, love, and unity – values that lie at the heart of his quest to unite the world under the banner of friendship and goodwill. In a world often divided by differences,

Turner’s mission has taken him far and wide, including a symbolic return to Selma, Alabama to extend an invitation for Selma to become a Sister City in Friendship. Through his travels and interactions, a poignant return to his childhood roots in Selma, Alabama, John Turner, the retired high school art teacher on a mission of global unity with the World Friendship Flag, embarked on a unique and symbolic journey. 

Turner’s goal was to walk the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge, a site of power, justice, and love, to gather its unique”MOJO”  and infuse it into the Flag of Goodwill. Having lived in Selma as a young boy while his father was stationed at the nearby Craig Air Force Base, Turner felt a deep connection to the city and its rich history. His ambitious plan was to walk the Edmund Pettus Bridge seven times per hour, for seven hours a day, for seven days leading up to the 4th of July – the seventh month of the year. This series of sevens, culminating on Independence Day, was intended to amplify the MOJO and add an extra touch of majesty to the World Friendship Flag. 

The World Friendship Flag, born in the small town of Summerville, Georgia, once known as Selma, Georgia, has journeyed across the United States, touching iconic sites such as the foot of Lady Freedom and the legendary Field of Dreams. From football stadiums to basketball courts, this flag has projected its message of unity, inviting people from all walks of life to join in the celebration of global friendship.