Upland, CA – On Feb. 24th, Upland Baha’i Community hosted an Appreciation Dinner event for their police force. It was an added blessing this year, to be able to honor and serve this body of peacekeepers during the first day of the Baha’i Ayyam-i-Ha celebration.
In her remarks, Soheila Azizi commented that, “we are grateful for the collaboration with our police department and the contribution it makes to our community-building efforts. By helping to foster unity in the community, Chief Johnson exemplifies the type of strong and compassionate leader who enhances trust and respectful interaction within our civic government.”
The evening was filled with heartfelt appreciation to our law enforcement men and women at the Upland Police 
Department, the Explorers, and especially Chief Brian Johnson and his staff. Sprinkled with music throughout the program, the divinely endowed artist, Zinnia Harper, inspired and entertained us with her original song The One, and a moving rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. The LSA of Upland presented a letter of commendation to Chief Johnson. Additionally, the Upland Interfaith Council members, Mike Ingram and Imam Mohammed Zafarullah, each spoke during the program, offering their thanks to both the Police Department and the Baha’i Community. Invited guests included City Council Members, Janice Elliott and Sid Robinson, the City Manager, the office of County Supervisor, Janice Rutherford and her representative Stephanie Rose, and District Representative, Marco Lundgren, from California State Senator Anthony Portantino’s office.
Each attendee received a souvenir card with the beautifully-colored Badi calendar rosette pictured on one side, and words from `Abdu’l-Baha on the other. Below is the selection from the Promulgation of Universal Peace, which were shared on the cards:
“Therefore, order your lives in accordance with the first principle of the divine teaching, which is LOVE. Service to humanity is service to God. Let the love and light of the kingdom radiate through you until all who look upon you shall be illumined by its reflection. Be as stars, brilliant and sparkling in the loftiness of their heavenly station.”