The Caldwell Messenger
Wednesday, May 6 1998

Last week, Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30 you may have seen a man walking around Caldwell pulling a "coffin" with many peace signs and slogans painted on it. The man's name was Rudy Stolfer and he is on a Peace Walk to Washington, D C.

Stolfer started out with the Walt Root (We Are Living The Results Of Our Thoughts) Quest for Peace which originated in Washington, D.C. over Thanksgiving 1996. Five people started south on Highway 29 with the premise of being at the National Rainbow Gathering by July 4, 1997. On January 30, 1997 just outside of Selma Alabama the coffin was destroyed by an automobile accident. The walk resumed March 11, 1997 from Birmingham, Alabama. In Boulder, Colorado in June the journey joined Uniting Springs for the remainder of the trip to Oregon.

On July 13, 1997 the 420 Day Freedom Walk left Ochoco National Forest as a group of 19 people, 6 dogs, a school bus and The Coffin. Heading back to Washington, D.C. via the west coast to join the Peace Vigil maintained by Prop One outside the White House on Labor Day weekend 1998. The journey continues although the size of the group continues to vary.

Currently the size of the group is one, Stolfer, who continues on his way to Washington, D.C. planning to be there for the Labor Day celebration.

Stolfer was originally from Washington, Pennsylvania. Before joining the Walt Root walk he was on a peace walk from New York City to Washington D.C. At that time he did not feel he had accomplished what he wanted to and began his journey across America

So far he has walked 4800 miles and will have completed 6,000 miles by the time his journey ends. Folks along the way help out with food and shelter.

Stolfer stated, "Not everyone can take off and walk 6000 miles but everyone has their own daily walk. No one can tell them what it is - that's between them and the Lord.