One of the most inspiring individuals walking for peace was Mildred Norman, who called herself simply Peace Pilgrim. She walked well over 25,000 miles criss-crossing the country, embodying the message of peace. It was New Years Day in 1953, the Korean War was still raging and Mildred Norman left Pasadena, California with the goal of walking the country for peace. She took up a new identity – Peace Pilgrim and walked for 28 years, never carrying money or food, depending only on peoples generosity for food and shelter.
Here’s a documentary about the Peace Pilgrim. At age 44, Mildred Norman left her life circumstances and became Peace Pilgrim — “walking coast to coast for peace for nearly 30 years, living on faith and sharing her wisdom and exuberance generously with people across the land. This 60-minute documentary is a poetic and musical exploration of her life and message, which is as relevant today as ever. Included are interviews with the Dalai Lama, Maya Angelou, John Robbins, Elizabeth Kubler Ross, and many of Peace Pilgrim’s friends, admirers, and relatives, along with newsreel footage from the 1950’s, 1960’s, and 1970’s, when Peace Pilgrim was on her walk for peace.”