By Karen Polly
Sun-News

DEMING --- A Pennsylvania man came through Deming, Thursday hauling a cart with a casket-shaped box behind him on a walk for peace across America.

Rudy Stolfer, 48 of Washington, Pa. said he had to have two flats on cart fixed Thursday, interrupting a trek in which he has already covered about 1,700 miles. Stolfer began his journey in Ochoco National Forrest in Oregon on July 13 1997 and he hopes to end up in Washington, D.C., by September. He has been joined by other people and dogs for days at a time, during his walks, but he was alone when he traveled through Deming. He said he thinks he can be in Las Cruces within three days.

Stolfer said he hopes to get people interested in peace and to spread the word of God while walking across the nation. When he arrives in Washington, D.C., he wants 9,999 people to join him with drums on Labor Day in front of the White House in an event he is calling "10,000 Drums" The event is to raise consciousness in Washington, of peoples desire for peace.

"You never win at war - it's time to wage peace." Stolfer said, Right now I don't have anything else to do. It's a great way to see the country, meet people. The odds are against me. But I'm not a big gambler anyway."

Stolfer is not only advocating peace in political and international wars, but also peace in the war on drugs. "We believe that by ending the drug war, a war on people, an important step toward world peace will be achieved," Stolfer stated in a handout.

Stolfer said he has averaged about 17 miles aday since he entered New Mexico but his usual average is 20 to 25 miles a day. He said on his best day, he managed 40 miles but that; pace is too tiring to maintain daily. Since July he has gone through three pairs of shoes, and is on his fourth pair, a yellowed pair of leather Nikes bought in Phoenix.

Stolfer said the walking has been fairly easy through New Mexico but he said when it begins to get dark, he has to stop because of the dramatic decrease in temperature at night.

He carries provisions in a box shaped like a coffin, which is strapped onto a cart. The box is decorated with toys and slogans to end war and he said it memorializes those who have died in wars.