The Madison County Journal
Wednesday, January 15, 1997
Madison County drivers have encountered many strange sights on county roads, including a man carrying a cross from Florida to Washington, a woman riding a mule from Texas to Virginia, a Czechoslovakian riding a push scooter from LA to New York, covered wagons and the Paralympic Torch. But few have caught the attention of the community like the two men who traveled down U.S. 29 from Royston to Athens on Saturday and Sunday.
Rudy Stolfer, 47, of Washington, Penn. and Kraig Mottar, 31, from Riverside, Calif. are on a peace pilgrimage that will eventually cover most of the U.S. Along the way, they have picked up a coffin, mounted on bicycle tires, to symbolize their anti-war message.
Stolfer is a former Marine who worked at a number of jobs before beginning his peace mission. He was an active member of Green Peace from Sept. '93 to Dec '95. Mottar is a former student whose interest includes flying. He joined Stolfer in Missouri, during the March to Chicago.
"We are opposed to all 'wars" said Stolfer. That includes such things as the "War on Poverty" and the "War on Drugs," even the political wars now being waged between Republicans and Democrats. "We would be better off if they all packed their bags and went home." Stolfer said of the U.S. Congress.
The two met on a peace pilgrimage in the mid-west that terminated at the Democratic Convention in Chicago. They then marched to New York for the 50th birthday of the United Nations, and on to Washington for election day. They are now on their way to Nevada to protest new non-nuclear bomb test they say is scheduled for this spring.
The coffin was provided by a group called "Proposition One" a peace advocacy organization that has sponsored continuous vigils in Washington D.C. since 1981. They have little need of money, they say. Most of their food, lodging, even repair to the cart, have been provided by people they meet on the road.