Peace Walkers to Visit Ocean City on Wednesday and Thursday

The community of Ocean City, Seaville Friends and the Unitarian Universalists in Pomona will have the privilege of welcoming the Buddhist monastic Peace Walkers on their journey from the New England Peace Pagoda to Washington, D.C.

In the name of “Peace for the People – For the Earth,” these walkers who left Massachusetts on Feb. 15 and are making their way to D.C. for April 5 will entrust themselves to local communities along the way for hospitality and respite. They will spend one evening in Pomona and two in Ocean City.

On Tuesday, March 19, the Walkers will pass through Pomona and will be hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Community http://www.uucsjs.org/.  A meal is planned at 6 p.m., and a presentation will be made from 7 to 9 p.m.  Peace Pilgrim’s sister will be an honored guest.

The following day they make their way to Richard Stockton College on their way to Ocean City.  The group of Buddhist monks, nuns and local walkers are dedicated to Peace, Community, Sustainability and Disarmament and they are walking for a New Spring.

On Wednesday, March 20, the walkers will be welcomed to a Pot Luck Dinner at the Bayside Center, 520 Bay Avenue, in Ocean City at 6.30 p.m., the first of two nights in Ocean City. The following evening, Thursday, March 21, the community will have an opportunity to meet and greet the Peace Walkers at the Senior Center at the Ocean City Community Center, at 6 p.m.  Local organizers are encouraging community members to come forward with contributions of food for the table and home stays. There will be a presentation by the monks after the meal at 7 p.m. in the Center.

The history of Peace Pagodas stretches back 2,500 years, and are dedicated to the realization of universal peace on earth. The Pagoda is a symbol of light in the darkness of the present day world.  www.newenglandpeacepagoda.org.  According to Georgina Shanley, “Our community and our island need healing after Hurricane Sandy, and there is no better way to start the process than opening up our arms and our hearts to the Peace Walkers”.  Members of Seaville Friends will be helping with feeding and sheltering the walkers.

Receptions are open to the public and community members are encouraged to offer food and shelter for the nights the Peace Walkers will be staying in south Jersey.

Contact Georgina Shanley at 609-442-2407 or shanleyg2001@yahoo.com.