Atlanta to SOA Peace Pilgrimage
2002
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Atlanta to SOA Peace Pilgrimage
2002 |
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The events of September 11, 2001;
Bombs dropped on civilians in Afghanistan; Sanctions and threats of war on Iraq; Soldiers trained at SOA to oppress human rights in their own countries; All are acts of terrorism. The Buddhist monks of Nipponzan Myohoji, with the help of people of faith & peace, from will walk Atlanta to Fort Benning, home of the SOA, as a walking prayer for peace in a time of chaos, violence and despair. "World Peace is not difficult if nations which are now exerting themselves to build-up armaments convert their strength for the sake of bringing peace to the heart of humankind." The Most Venerable Nichidatsu Fujii Founder of Nipponzan Myohoji Walk for World Peace from Atlanta to Fort Benning We will begin our Pilgrimage at the tomb of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in Atlanta and walk 140 miles to Fort Benning, home of the SOA to join SOA Watch's annual demonstration. Please join for a few steps or the entire distance. Support can also be shown through prayer, hosting walkers, providing a meal or coming to the demonstration. The rally and solemn memorial service will be held the weekend of Nov. 16-17 |
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We gathered at the Atlanta Dojo to prepare for the start of the walk tomorrow. Everyone got to meet each other and we had a pleasent evening talking with each other and making preparations for our journey. 
Morning came too soon but we still enjoyed a great breakfast with some fine tea. Jeff Mckenzie is filling it up in preparation for a long days walk.
After morning prayers a picture was taken at the Temple Alter. Utsumi, Tyler, Yasuhiro, Sally, Susan, Kevin, Greg, Barb, Jeff and Denise were the first walkers.
Everyone had to load their day stuff into the back of the Troopie before departing. Tyler helped load all the bags while Barb assisted. Kevin and Greg are ready and raring to go!!!The Trooper, lovingly called the "Troopie" was once again called into service for yet another journey. The old "Troopie" had supported both the Hiroshima Flame Walk and the Atlanta to Oak Ridge Peace Pilgrimage earlier in the year. 
From the tomb of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the drumming and chanting of Brother Utsumi and Sister Denise echoed off the walls of the Ebenezer Babtist Church. With the dedicated walkers chanting and drumming in the background prayers were respectfully made and the walkers began yet another spiritual journey of love.The long days walk ended at Lockeed Martin for a prayer vigil. The only problem we had was Susan and I had to drop her car off at the end of the walk. The neighborhood we ended up in was a rather poverty stricken area. We first stopped at a gas station and asked them if we might park there. The fellow that we talked to was very nice and said we could park in the back but warned us that the car might be broken into and that he would not take responsibility if this happened. Susan felt rather nervous about this and decided to ask a Florist Shop next to the gas station if we could park the car in front of their business. The guy at the Florist Shop was super nice and let us park the car right out in front of his store! Some how when we were driving back we missed the walkers and spent about 20 minutes looking for them. It takes a little while to get co-ordinated sometimes! 
Utsumi, Barbara, Kevin with his One Earth flag and Greg are standing across from Lockheed Martin during the prayer vigil we held there.And when the little band of walkers reached the gates of Lockheed Martin and stood before the giant chanting and beating the drums it seemed an impossibility that they would even be seen much less heard. As I stood there chanting with them I saw in the distance a little lady in a white sweat shirt walking towards us. When she reached the group she greeted Denise with a hug and then came around to all of us. She was a tiny little lady by the name of Judy. A grain of sand in the Grand Canyon, but with the heart of a lion! And then more came with their signs and banners, probably doubling our number. And a few people started honking as the traffic increased and giving us the peace sign V. An then more and more and maybe it grew to one in ten. 
And as I looked out over these marvelous people I noticed a man taking his right hand from his side and putting it around his wife onto her shoulder. Such a small gesture in action but a magnificantly great gesture of love! Oh God, why can't we have as many love bullets as lead bullets? I turned to look back and saw Tyler having a tobacco ceremony with one of the trees growing behing us. I went back to join him and he said "The tree will be witness long after we're gone." 
Judy Kugler, our lion heart, was our over night host. Some of her friends contributed dishes of food and Judy made the most delicious gumbo I have ever had. A most gracious host, she made us breakfast the next morning and walked with is the first segment. I wasn't the only one happy with the food. Utsumi was equally impressed! It looks as if he's telling Susan, right foreground, to stay away from his plate! 
Judy Kugler and Mary Beth Gamba, from Bingingham, NY, Joined us today. It was chilly and looked like rain but all were in good spirits. Mary Beth is just to the right of Denise and Judy is just to the right of Utsumi.
At the first break Greg volunteered to drive Judy back home so I could stay with the group. Bless her heart. Thusly our lion's heart was absent but only in person, not in spirit! It was a beautiful day for walking and what I tried to do was stay within a mile of the walkers in case of injury or illness or the need for water or equipment. I would stay behind them until they were almost out of sight and then drive to a point a half mile or so ahead of them. So as I waited for my family to catch up to me on this day... they appear and I am parked across from a trailer park and these young kids are tossing ball and one of them misses. Mary Beth runs over, picks up the ball and tosses it back, smiling and waving and sharing her spirit and her love. The loving spirit of these people never fails to amaze me. At the end of the days walk, close to Douglasville, an unfortunate traffic accident occurred at our stopping point. A lady struck a truck from behind about 30 yards from where I was parked. I ran down and made sure they were ok and they seemed to be. We then left only to be picked up by the police in Douglasville and escorted back to the scene of the accident. We were interogated by the sheriff as to what happened. Fortunately Tyler had witnessed the wreck and was able to tell the sheriff exactly what happened. After the sheriff took all our statements he released us. Our problem now, with all the delays, was to return to Atlanta on time for the protest walk and vigil that was to take place in Atlanta. We were late getting back for much of the opening ceremony but managed to arrive before the march started. Since Greg and I were driving we had to find parking places for the cars. Once we parked we did manage to catch up with our group near the front of the march. 
The march began at the tomb of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., meandered through the streets of downtown Atlanta and arrived at Olympic Park where the festivities were to take place.
Judy, lower left with sunglasses, Yasuhiro, center with drum and Greg, just to the right of Yashurio, marching in the enormous crowd. 
Brother Utsumi was caught on film by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as he lead us through the streets of Atlanta. The paper reported that this was the largest anti-war demonstration in 30 years. They estimated the number of marchers to be 2,500 but I'm here to tell you they missed a few thousand of us when they made their count!
Our resolute band of Peacemakers gathered near the podium in Olympic park to hear the speaches that were to be made. There was entertainment provided and many vendors had bumber stickers, tee shirts, buttons and other peace regalia on sale at their tables.
I wasn't sure exactly how long the festivities were going to last and since the Troopie was parked about a mile and a half back at the King Center I decided to take off so I wouldn't slow every body down when walking back. I told Brother Utsumi that I was leaving and set off on my journey back. It must have been about 10:30 - 11:00 o'clock and it was raining slightly. I didn't exactly know how to get back so I had to stop and ask directions. I first asked a policeman at Olympic Park but he was very surly and unpleasent so I just walked away from him. I got out of the park and ran into two very nice police officers who got me on the road to the road I was looking for. As I walking down the road leading to the King Center I was walking through a very poor section of town. There were many homeless sleeping on park benches, in doorways, behind dumpsters, etc. I was approached many times by unfortunate street people asking me for money. I soon ran out of money and could do nothing for the rest. I noticed about a block in front of me that there was a lady stopping every little group of folks ahead of me on the sidewalk. Evidently I wasn't the only one who had to walk back to their car. At any rate I was preparing for another sad story. When she finally reached me she asked me if I had been on the protest march and I told her I was. She grabbed me and hugged me and thanked me! Then I was approached by another man who told me that he was a Viet Nam combat veteran. He told me his outfit, it escapes me now, and his experiences of being wounded several times and that he had won the Bronze Star and, in addition to the Purple Heart, mentioned several other medals and commendations. He asked me if I could spare some change and I had to tell him that I was flat broke. I couldn't help crying as I hugged him. "What kind of country is this", I thought to myself, "that sends it's young men and women to war, an unjust and evil war, to fight and die or get mained and scared, only to end up like this?" He said he just wanted 3 bucks to get a box of chicken. I walked the rest of the way to Martin Luther King's tomb with tears running down my face. I stood in the rain at Martin's Tomb still weeping and praying that some how, some day, his dream would be a reality! We spent the night at the Atlanta Dojo, where Julia Shideler joined us and the next morning we drove back to Douglasville to begin the next segment of our journey. 
We had two new walkers this morning. Julia Shideler and Ginger Cashin. They are sandwiched in between Susan and Kevin in the next picture, Julia is in front.
We were very lucky to find great spots to hold our rest breaks. Since we were on the back roads, so to speak, there were not very many "indoor" rest rooms. This was a little out of business restuarant with and awning and concrete tables and chairs. Shelter food and comfort! As a bonus off to the left of the picture was a gas station!
We were hosted by Tom and Vicky Perkins for our overnight. Tom and Vicky were Native American and had a house that they used to rent out rooms to men. I believe it was sort of a half way house and it was meant to provide spirit guidence to people. They had a sweat lodge in the back and Tom and Vicky put on a sweat for all the walkers. After this took place a great meal was provided by a lady name Jan and her grand daughter. Daniel, Bob and Jonathon were some of the folks that lived there and Daniel kept the fiie and added the stones to the sweat. The sweat lasted four rounds. Daniel was an extremely polite and gracious person who treated us with great respect. We did have sort of a problem. There wasn't much room for all of us in the house so Greg, Yasuhiro and I decided to tent up. Sally, using her right as the eldest elder, took the couch that I had my eye on, otherwise I would not have gone outside. At any rate, I was awakened harshly by a bolt of lightning. It was pouring down rain and the lightning a thunder were tremendous. I decided I would be safer inside so I bolted to the back door. By the time I got there I was soaked. I sat down in a chair next to Sally's couch and fell asleep, wet clothes and all! The next morning I went to pack my tent and there was 4 inches of water in it. Greg and Yasuhiro made it through just fine! 
Tyler left us this morning. Greg drove him back to Columbus to catch a bus back to New York where he was going to depart to Japan to join Jun San's walk to Hiroshima.
The day was uneventful. Every one was pretty tired though and glad to see the day come to an end. The first two days had been grueling, especially with the added vigils and the protest in Atlanta. At the first rest stop we were really out in the middle of nowhere. We were in a valley with the Georgia hills surrounding us. As the walkers were plodding their way around the first bend, about a quarter mile from where I was parked, the echo of their drums started rolling through the hills surrounding us. I couldn't hear the drums just the echos. It was a really neat moment. As the day progressed I was waiting at a rest stop and some folks stopped, got out of their car, and came over to me to tell me to thank all the walkers for what they were doing. They even offered to buy everyone a drink but I told them it would probably be 30 minutes before the group arrived and they did not have that much time. I decided to drive back and see if everyone was ok so back I went and low and behold, as I got near to the group, who should I see walking toward the group but Ray Hearne! What a great feeling I had when I saw her. I pulled the car over and we gave each other big hugs! It is wonderful to see your friends again when they show up during the walks and runs. 
Our walking day ended in Noonan Ga where we were hosted by a Catholic Church. They provided us with a great dinner and a lot of rooms to stay in. We also had the use of a kitchen where we gathered in the evening and held a group discussion. Everyone told their own partiular reasons for begin in the peace movement and on this walk.
We were also invited to attend a meeting at a Presbyterian Church whose members had just started a peace movement group the month before. They wanted us to come and tell them a little about our walk and why we were doing it. A goodly number of our group had much to say to them and it was nice to see another peace movement group being formed. 
Ray Hearne, who arrived in the middle of yesterday's walk, began the day with the group for the first time. Ray is just to the right of the banner.
It was a little rainy when we started the day but it cleared up after a bit. During our lunch break all the walkers wrote personal messages on post cards for Erik Johnson and Patrick Liteky. One really neat thing happened to Kevin. He noticed a vehicle drive by, stop, turn around and come back to him. There was an elderly couple in the van and they asked Kevin what we were up too. He told them about the walk and it's purpose and the lady handed him some money, thanked him, and told him to thank us all and to use the money to buy lunch. He took the money back to Denise, not bothering to look at it, and when Denise unfolded the money it was a hundred dollar bill! Greg and I also had to take the time to jack the Troopie up and look at one of the rear brakes which was grinding badly. There was some metal dust on the wheel but it wasn't grabbing so we decided just to leave it alone for the day. We transported back to Noonan to the Church where we stayed another night. For a change we had no plans for anything and had a night of rest and relaxation. Everyone was grateful for the down time. No changes in the starting lineup for today. Just another long walk, this time to LaGrange College. Yasuhiro spent most of the day with me in the support vehicle. He had an extremely bad blister and it had become infected so he took the day off from walking. While we were together he expanded my Japanese language skills by another six words. 
The day was absolutelty georgeous and sunny, a perfect day for a walk through the Georgia country side.
Kevin Wyer was our road guard for most of the journey. Kevin did a tremendous job of keeping the walkers safe from the oncoming traffic speeding along the Georgia backroads. 
Day 6 was the most pleasent walking day we had during our journey. It was warm but not to hot and we have a sunny bright day without any rain for a change. After 5 days of walking most of the walkers had gained their "walking legs" and were enjoying the exercise.
Of course like all good walkers or runners you never stand up when you can sit down, you never sit down if you can lie down, and above all, you never stay awake when you can go to sleep! Of course our fearless leader, Utsumi, taught us all how to do this! Very well, I might add!
Our destination was LaGrange College where we were invited to have dinner and attend a discussion group meeting with a peace group being formed by students and faculty members of LaGrange College. 
We were met by Stan Thangaraj who was the organizer of this peace group. At the meeting we showed a video of the SOA brutalities and assassinations to the group and then formed a circle in the student commons meeting room. Each person introduced themselves and gave a brief description of why they were doing this walk. Julia and Barbara were outstanding in their explanations and Greg and Kevin gave very moving accounts of their experiences.
The walkers were hosted overnight in a Peace Nexus in LaGrange established by Anton Flores, a faculty member of LaGrange College. It was a remarkable experience and we were all inspired by the achievements of this group of Peacemakers. We were divided between three houses within the nexus and were invited to get together at one of the houses where we had more food, drink and some very scrumptous deserts. 
What an inspiring time for all of us walkers. Kindness, generosity and love just overflowed in this Peace Nexus. The "Peace House" where Stan lived along with a needy family, the community garden that they had established, the gift of love and sharing, all coming together making this "Peace Community" a pattern for the rest of the world.
In the picture Stan is in the back with his arm around Anton who is on the far right. The others are neighbors and friends within Peace Nexus LaGrange. 
The new walkers are Rhian Clay, Drew Rogers, Anton Flores, Stan Thangaraj, Erin Andersen, Katie Baker, Michael Thomas, and Katrina and Ellie Guettler. I can't tell you where but they sould be in this picture somewhere! These were all students and faculty from LaGrange College who wanted to participate in our walk.
The folks that joined us in the morning from the LaGrange community all walked the first 4 mile segment with us displaying their banners and signs.
At the end of the first segment of our walk we had a little gathering and sort of a closing ceremony for the walkers from LaGrange. We parted company at this point, bid our farewells, and continued on our journey towards Columbus grateful and uplifted by the support we received from these great people.
At the end of the days walk we then transported to Judy and Jim Cunbee's home. They hosted us for our overnight and provided food and shelter in a most gracious manner. Judy sang a song for us and told us of the legend of their house.
The house was built of stones and, as legend has it, these stones were taken from the chimneys of the burnt houses that were left by Sherman's army when they marched from Atlanta to Savannah. It is possible that slaves, indeed, lived in shacks that these chimney stones came from. It was a remarkable and spititual story. Judy and her community had some festivities planned for our group of walkers. This gathering took place at another location and so most of the walkers traveled there to eat some goodies, greet the community and listen to Voices In The Wilderness. 
Of course, the support team, supplemented by Greg Zolad, who lowered himself to the level of Support Master Mechanic had to stay behind and try to get the old Troopie fixed. The brake pad had fallen out on the ground! It was dust! It was to no avail, even the parts we had to replace it were the wrong parts! As luck would have it Jim and others from the Run For Freedom group were on their way to Judy's house with the right parts. They were not going to get there until 6am on the next day, however, and we would have to be on the road before they arrived, without the Troopie.
Well, the next morning came and the Troopie was not going anywhere. Just about the time Denise and John were trying to figure out the support and transportation plan and big truck, with a cap on it no less, pulled into the driveway and out popped Liana and two other students from Warren Wilson College! They had come to join the walk! And the truck was empty. We were, indeed, saved by providence. Our transportation problems were solved in a most miraculous way. 
So we began the day, not only with adequate transport, but three new walkers, Liana Johannaber, LLora Kressman and Kaoluolu, all students at Warren-Wilson.
LLora is at the left corner of the banner, Liana is in the center of the banner and Kaoluolu is at the far right of the picture below. It was raining as we started our last day's walk before actually reaching Columbus Georgia. We still had one more day to go but at least we would be in our target city. 
This day was the most miserable walking day we experienced. It rained, for the most part, all day. The roads were very narrow and there was a lot of traffic. Kevin is to be commended for the saftey he provided in acting as a point man for the walkers. The picture was taken just inside the Columbus city limits. We finally made it to our target city, cold, wet and happy!
Shortly after the above picture was taken we transported to the Church we were staying at for the next two nights in Columbus proper. We split up into mens people and womens people separate rooms. Barb and Liana somehow got in the mens people room but we didn't care! It was time to relax and recuperate a little. Utsumi and Denise decided that we deserved to be treated to pizza and that's what we had for dinner.
The festivities were not over for the evening. After our dinner Susan was given a suprise birthday party. Mary Beth and Julia are with Susan at the blowing out of the candles. I am not sure what her wish was but it just may have had something to do with her blistered feet! A good time was had by all.
With the Troopie still under the weather we commenced the final walk into Columbus to our destination. The group was joined by Mario, front left, previously on the Hiroshima Flame Walk. It was lightly raining on and off during the day but we managed well. We were fortunate to find a marvelous little place close to where they were building a new bridge and that's where we had lunch. Shelter and outdoor bathroom facilities were available.
The condition and whereabouts of the Troopie were unknown at this time. 
We were almost home. It was on our second to last break, in a day old bread store parking lot, when shouts and hoorahs were heard. I turned around to see the Troopie being driven into the parking lot by Jim San followed by Jon Blickenstaff's van. What a wonderful moment for the support driver! Son James and best friend Jon joining us at last. They had fixed the Troopie that morning and finally caught up with us!
The day of purpose had finally arrived. The walkers are ready to cross Victory Blvd and enter Benning Drive and do what they walked so far to do! Julia is in this picture just behind Jeff with her hands clasped in prayer. Little did any of us suspect that in a few short minutes this brave young woman would cross the line. 
Before being allowed to proceed down Benning Drive to the gates all the people participating in the protest had to be searched, scanned, before being allowed to enter. Brother Utsumi and Sister Denise can be seen next under going this indignity. 
Jim San was one of many protesters who filled out the no consent to search form as a protest to this search. 
The walkers assembled on Benning Drive after the search and prepare to take their part in the opening ceremony. Treeza Black joined the walkers this morning in their final walk to the gates. 
The walking group was lead onto the stage. Brother Utsumi and Sister Denise gave short talks about the pilgrimage and the whole group chanted and drummed prayers to the audience as part of the opening ceremony. 
The walkers finally gather at the gates. It took ten long, arduous, and at times painful, days but they made it. As I sat and watched the proceedings I could not help but think about all the things that happened during the ten days of the pilgrimage. The vigil at Lockheed Martin, the protest walk through Atlanta, my visit with Martin Luther King Jr. at his tomb, Judy Kugler's gumbo, my new family members, the courage of Susan, Yasuhiro, Kevin, Greg, and all the others walking with blisters and pain, sometimes wet, cold, certainly tired. The folks always in the kitchen to help. Ginger, Julia, Ray, et al. Tyler, the Perkins family, Sister Mary Margret, Mary Beth playing with the children, Sally and Greg being silly with the ape, Stan, Anton and his wonderful family. Liana, LLoa and Kaoluolu. Jim and the Troopie, the Cumbees, Jon Blickenstaff giving me a hug. Mario and Treeza, Kevin leading the way, Julia in her pajamas, Barbara telling us of her experiences in Central America, Jeff McKenzie and his son and daughter-in-law. Flooding, overflowing my mind. The tomatoes that Greg brought for me. Bob, the guard at the church in Columbus Ga, the policeman that stopped to talk to me at a break, the sheriff in Douglasville, the thunder storm, the sweat lodge, the guy at the florist shop, the folks that stopped and gave us the money, the cookies I found for 50 cents, the taco that Liana made for me the last supper we had together, the banner so proudly displayed as you walked along, the hugs, the personal stories, and on and on just sweeping my mind of all other thoughts. Hundreds of these images being replayed out in my mind. 
My heartfelt thanks to all but especially to Brother Utsumi and Sister Denise. The leadership, dedication, courage and strength of purpose that Reverand Utsumi and Sister Denise imparted to us and the world made us better human beings. For this I will be eternally grateful.
Thanks Denise and Utsumi. I hope we walk again together.
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