The United Nations was founded in 1945 and the anniversary of the day on which the UN charter came into force is observed each year on Oct. 24.
In Norton however, the town will not be celebrating United Nations Day this month.
Selectmen said, “no” when it came to accommodating a request from the United Nations Association of Greater Boston to recognize Oct. 24 as United Nations Day.
“This organization might have been great after WWII but it no longer serves a purpose,” said selectman Vice Chairman Robert Kimball.
A proclamation was sent out across the Baystate, from the UN of Greater Boston, encouraging cities and towns to participate in United Nations Day asking them perform tasks such as flying the UN flag and encouraging educators to conduct model UN simulations.
The Norton board said they could not back the organization, whose original intent was to promote peace and security, when soldiers are still getting killed in the Middle East, Kimball said.
“The UN was originally formed for a specific purpose, I think the intentions are still there but they are not as effective as they’ve been in the past,” said selectman Chairman Timothy Giblin.
Selectman Bradford Bramwell said another country, other than the United States, should take on the task of hosting the UN.
Kimball agreed.
“We took on the responsibility of hosting, it’s time to find another world leader to take on the responsibility,” he said.
“I don’t think the residents of the town of Norton will be missing too many opportunities,” Bramwell said of the board’s decision.