ALTAVISTA, VIRGINIA 24513
Wednesday. December, 18, 1996

Duo marches across country for peace

By BETTY GILLIAM
Altavista Journal Editor

A pair of strangers drew attention in Altavista on Saturday as they walked through town. pulling a 300 pound coffin strapped to platform suspended on bicycle tires. The coffin, representing the death of all war victims, protests the atrocities of war.

Accompaning the coffin are Rudy Stolfer, age 47, Washington, Penn. and Kraig Mottar, age 31,, Riverside, Calif, who represents Uniting Spirits Peace Pilgrimage a growing movement dedicated to fostering a unifying doctrine. 'We believe we are all brothers and sisters, as we are all God's children," says Stolfer "In order for real change to happen, we must all come together as one."

In the 1980s, he was operating a wooden toy business Customers included Saks Fifth Avenue, the Smithsonian, John Deere, and others. He also served in the Marine Corps for four years and worked for Greenpeace from Sept. 1993 until Dec. 1995.Mottar a former student and pilot, joined Stolfer in July. They marched from Missouri to Chicago, on to a Shawnee regional gathering in southern Illinois, then to New York.

On Dec 3, they started their "coffin" trek in Washington D C.,creating their traveling symbol with the help of Proposition One, a peace advocacy organization which has sponsored continuous vigils in the nation's capital since 1981.

From Altavista, they will follow Route 29 to Atlanta, and they hope to be in Nevada before April 1.

When walking through Lynchburg the pair was impressed with the downtown area and the friendly people. A bicycle shop donated a free tire for their coffin.

Journals have been kept along the way and they hope to publish a book at the conclusion of the march. Local newspapers have reported on their trip. One of their most pleasant surprises came in l Lovingston, where the local sheriff put them up in a motel one night. In Charlottesville, an 82-year-old Quaker fed them and provided overnight accommodations. When they left, he gave them $5, each.

Stolfer says they haven't needed much money. "We left D C. with $2 each, along the way, our needs have been provided. When we were walking on Rt. 29 between Lynchburg and Altavista, a car stopped and the driver gave us hamburgers and soft drinks."

The marchers are united in their purpose "We want to wake people up," says Stolfer. "Peace and unity. That's where it's at for the human race . It's God's will, and we want people to get that message."

Stolfer and Mottar were guests in the home of Estelle Shaw and her daughter, Catherine Shaw-Gallant, Lynch Station, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights.