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Hundreds of supporters lined the streets of east Fort Worth on Saturday morning to welcome the Buddhist monks home after their 2,300 mile Walk for Peace.
By 7 a.m., a large-sized group had already gathered at Eastover Park, where the monks were due to arrive. Someone scattered red and white rose petals on the road and several people were carrying bouquets of flowers.
Yvonne Hanson left her home in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, at 6 a.m. Thursday and drove more than 17 hours to so she could be on time to walk with the monks on the last leg of their journey from the park to their temple, the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center.
Hanson told the Star-Telegram that she’d been among the millions of people following the monks’ journey on social media.
“My heart just wanted to burst,” she said. “I just felt it was something I had to do.”
Kristen Hackenberg from Cache, Oklahoma, contrasted the monks’ message of peace to the political divisions that continue to roil the nation.
“Look what we can do if we come together,” Hackenberg said.
The monks set off from the Fort Worth temple on Oct. 26. Clad in brown robes and carrying simple packs on their shoulders, they prepared to walk to Washington, D.C., on a mission to promote national healing and unity.
The trip took a total of 112 days. They returned to Fort Worth around 8:45 a.m. Saturday in a charter bus. The men were greeted by cheers from the onlookers, and the majority joined them for the approximately mile-and-a-half walk to the temple.
Danielle Deraleau said she’s been following the walk online, and she’s been pleased to see how many people have turned out to support the monks in their various stops.
“It’s nice to see something online that makes me feel hopeful,” she said.
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Harriet Ramos
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