Colorado Daily News, Boulder, Co. 27 May 1997
After four years in the Marine Corps and even more time observing the United State's activities Rudy Stolfer decided to take a peace pilgrimage across the nation to publicize his cause.
"It's about time we all started getting along," said Stolfer, 47. "How long do we indulge in rhetoric and continue to steal from the next generation?"
Stolfer, of Pennsylvania, stopped in Boulder this week and plans to proceed with his journey today or Saturday, depending on the weather.
When asked why he chose to walk across the nation to get the word out he said "Who knows what spark it will take somewhere along the line? We can pull off a situation where our kids win, but it will take a heck of a lot of change as far as mind-sets go."
Stolfer transports his belongings in a "coffin"-on-wheels contraption that has an upside-down flag on it. An upside-down flag is a sign of distress which Stolfer said the country is feeling right now.
"People say it's bad to spend corporate money on welfare mothers but they'll subsidize nuclear power," Stolfer said. "I think it's a severe case of misguided priorities and it's time to straighten it up foe the children.''
Military industrialism which, Stolfer said has existed for 20 years leads to paranoia he said. With the current state of education and welfare systems "We're going to live in a world of paranoia for another 30 to 40 years," he said
Six people originally started out on the "Uniting Spirits Peace Walk" traveling to Washington, D.C. from Chicago last July. Then Stolfer and a friend continued on the "Walt Root Peace Walk" Stolfer named the walk "Walt Root" as an acronym of the phrase "We Are Living The Results Of Our Thoughts."
"We deserve more," said Stolfer.
Stolfer's partner was injured when a car hit the "coffin" and Stolfcr now walks the long road across the country alone. He plans to arrive on the West Coast by July marking one year of walking and he hopes to attend the National Rainbow Gathering location to be announced. Then Stolfer said he will set back on the road and attempt to return to Washington, D.C. by Labor Day weekend in 1998 to make the statement that Americans "want our money's worth."