Would you pay $1,000 for 30 grams of feathers? That’s about the weight of a pencil. In the late 1800s and early 1910s, feathers for women’s hats commanded this ludicrous pricing and almost exterminated many bird species. This murderous millinery trend was responsible for the death of millions of birds all in the name of fashion. Plumes and whole bodies were used to decorate women’s hats. The elaborate plumes were often from egrets, herons and bird of paradise. From Australia’s Museum Victoria’s website, “Feathers have featured in fashion throughout history, but the second Industrial Revolution started to bring luxuries to the masses.”
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With so much available to so many, the problem became how to be noticed in a crowd. A hat with bigger feathers, more feathers and sometimes entire birds made women stand out. Milliners provided outlandish and vibrant designs to women’s fashion. As milliners showed their talents, it drove the desire. Feathers became a status symbol coveted by the new mass market and were produced on an industrial scale throughout the 1800s. Birds were hunted around the world to supply plumes to fashion centers like London and New York.

The Museum goes on to state, “On a walk in New York in 1886, the American Museum of Natural History’s ornithologist, Frank Chapman, infamously observed some 40 native bird species on women’s hats, some with an entire stuffed bird attached.”

These precious feathers commanded high prices with terrible environmental impacts. Herbert K. Job’s book “Wild Wings” reveals the scarcity of herons caused by the millinery trade, “The price for plumes offered to hunters was $32 per ounce, which makes the plumes worth about twice their weight in gold.”

In today’s money, that’s about $1,000 per ounce.

Job said that in 1902, over 1,600 packages of heron plumes were sold at just one London auction house. “As it requires about four birds to make an ounce of plumes, these sales meant 192,960 herons killed at their nests, and from two to three times that number of young or eggs destroyed. He lamented, “Is it then, any wonder that these species are on the verge of extinction? It should be understood at the outset of this, that plumes, which are called by milliners, aigrettes, stubs or ospreys, are dyed to whatever color is fashionable - are bourne by herons and only during the nuptial season and can only be secured by shooting the birds when they have assembled in colonies to breed, when their usual shyness has departed, owing to the strength of the parental instinct. Returning to their nests, they are shot down and their young are left to starve. These plumes are secured in no other way.”

Many birds were hunted and killed to near extinction. Thankfully, the decline in this trend began around 1910 as environmental awareness and several new laws like the Lacey Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act severely restricted the feather trade.

Meanwhile, another trend was occurring at virtually the same time in the fly fishing world. Victorian era fly-tying was hot. And guess what? It required bird feathers. These lures were designed and created with recipes that included feathers from many exotic species of birds.

According to Le Comptoir magazine, the real forerunners of the British fly-tiers, Major John Popkin Traherne and George Kelson, who were also salmon anglers, took advantage of the collection of exotic bird feathers collected in all of the British Empire during the long reign of Victoria. To name just a few species: African bustards; guinea fowl; Amazonian cotingas; cock of the rock; Mexican quetzals; and Papuan birds of paradise were used to tie Victorian flies. These flies were used in rivers of Scotland, Norway and Ireland where salmon was abundant.

In 1864, while fishing in Norway, Traherne caught 165 large salmon in only 15 days, a catch that has not been equaled since. Traherne only tied flies with original feathers taken outside the molting period of each species. Thirty years later, in 1895, when he published his bible of salmon flies, Kelson, who recognized Traherne as the best Victorian fly-tier, suggested instead of bird feathers that had become rare and difficult to obtain, one could use artificially dyed feathers or substitutes. Then in 1914, Dr. Pryce Tannatt, a renowned fly-tier, in his book “How to Tie Salmon Flies,” disagreed with Kelson and insisted, at whatever cost, you must certain “ornithological rarities, not only for their beauty, but also for the superiority of these flies made with original feathers compared to those made with dyed feathers or substitutes, for catching salmon.”

In the 1960s, Victorian flies made a tremendous comeback, not for fishing, but for admiration as works of art. Today, they are still admired, even adored while some become literally obsessed with tying the perfect tie with the best materials for tying contests, shows, exhibitions or even fashion shows. For modern fly-tiers, Tannatt’s insistence has held fast. This leads us to one of the craziest stories and thefts in history. 

Edwin Rist, an aspiring flautist, originally from New York, went to school in London to study his art as a teenager. He was also a renowned fly-tier and was well respected within the fly-tying community. He really wanted a new flute, in fact a golden flute, and in his student role, certainly did not have the means to buy such. So, in 2009, he broke into the British Natural History Museum in Tring and stole 299 specimen birds, several that had been collected 150 years ago, some by Alfred Russel Wallace, a contemporary of Charles Darwin. These specimen birds were part of one of the largest collections of birds, many used for scientific and historical data. This collection was literally irreplaceable.

So why did Rist do this and what did he do with the specimen birds? He did it to have some feathers of his own for fly-tying and to get money by selling them to the underground feather-buying population. Yep, this exists.

Many modern day fly-tiers who build flies from old recipes insist on the real feather; imitations or substitutes will not do, just like Tannatt insisted. When you can’t get some of these feathers, you resort to unconventional ways to secure your prize. It’s the scarcity principle in economics; high demand for a scarce good drives the price up.

Since national treaties are in place to protect birds, these feathers are nearly impossible to get, but coveted more than ever. In the contemporary fly-tying culture, “those who can tie the real thing, using feathers specified by 150-year-old recipes, are granted a huge amount of prestige and status. Some of these Victorian fly-tying recipes call for $2,000 worth of feathers, all wound around a hook that will never be cast into a river. Though perfectly legal substitute feathers dyed from game birds can be used to achieve the same look,” notes author Kirk Wallace Johnson, author of the compelling and fascinating book “The Feather Thief.” “Rist wanted to be the best at his craft and the quickest way to amass an unrivaled supply of the real thing, in his obsessed mind, was to scale the walls of the Natural History Museum in Tring,” Johnson wrote.

Johnson states, “It is indisputable that the theft has blown open a hole in the scientific record. The skins Rist stole are irreplaceable because we can no longer capture a king bird of paradise from 1860.” Dr. Richard Lane, the director of science at the Natural History Museum, described the Tring theft as “a catastrophic event and a theft of knowledge from humanity.” Johnson notes, “Ornithological collections have long been studied to unlock critical scientific insights. In the 19th century, Darwin and Wallace drew upon them as they independently developed their theories of evolution through natural selection.” He states, in the 20th century, egg collections helped scientists learn the fatal effects of DDT and “feather samples from the Tring seabird collection helped document rising mercury levels in the oceans, leading researchers to describe them as the memory of the ocean. The skins Rist stole almost certainly hold answers to questions that scientists haven’t yet thought to ask.”

So what did Rist do with his stolen goods? He plucked many of them and sold the feathers. When Johnson’s book was published, some of the feathers were returned to Tring, but many were not. Unjustifiably, Rist got away with a fine and no jail time. He has taken a new name and plays as a concert flautist in Germany.

Since the publication of his book, Johnson is obviously pleased that some feathers have been returned; he only wishes he knew what happened to all the skins and where they are now. He also notes there is a “fledgling movement within the world of fly-tiers to embrace sustainable feathers; they hope to stigmatize the obsession with rare and protected plumes in their community and to popularize the use of dyed feathers from game birds like pheasants or turkeys.”

I highly recommend Johnson’s book. It’s an unreal story and reads like a great novel.

Once again, man has set out to dominate to the demise of the very flora and fauna that is desirable. Selfish, unthoughtful and history-halting behavior led to decimating populations. When passion becomes obsession, it can destroy the very thing you love. 

We must learn to work with the Earth, treat it with kindness and as a kindred spirit. Native Americans know, we don’t own the Earth, the Earth owns us and one day will take us back.

by Tish Gailmard

We all know there are no safe levels of lead in the blood. Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in behavioral and learning problems, lower IQ, hyperactivity and other things. Lead can pass from the mother to a developing fetus, causing everything from premature birth to issues with the brain, kidneys and nervous system. Lead is also harmful to adults, resulting in cardiovascular issues, reproductive problems and decreased kidney function.

The tricky thing about lead is that you cannot see, smell or taste it; boiling water will not remove lead. Although simply reducing our exposure is not enough, there are ways to do it.

Flush your taps. The longer the water lies dormant in your home’s plumbing, the more lead it might contain. If the water in your faucet has gone unused for more than six hours, flush the tap with cold water for 30 seconds to two minutes before drinking or using it to cook. To conserve water, catch the running water and use it to water your plants.

Use cold water for drinking and cooking. Hot water has the potential to contain more lead than cold water. If hot water is needed for cooking, heat cold water on the stove or in the microwave. 

Routinely remove and clean all faucet aerators.

Look for the “Lead Free” label when replacing or installing plumbing fixtures.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for replacing water filters in household appliances, such as refrigerators and ice makers, as well as home water treatment units and pitchers. Look for NSF 53 certified filters. Customers can also look for NSF 42 certified filers which will help with turbidity concerns. 

Flush after plumbing changes. Changes to your service line, meter, or interior plumbing may result in sediment, possibly containing lead, in your water supply. Remove the strainers from each faucet and run the water for three to five minutes.

Routinely clean faucet screens. Sediment and metals can collect in the faucet screen located at the tip of your faucets. Replace screens that are in poor condition. New screens are available at local hardware stores. 
We all know to guard against lead-based paint, lead-contaminated soil and other hazards.

But water?

I’ve been concerned with the level of microscopic plastic particles that are in my drinking water, but it never occurred to me that lead could be in my water!

Actually, lead is not in the water. Tennessee American Water Company provides water that is tested and retested to ensure it is safe. The water in the main water line is safe. And keeping us safe is at the forefront of this company’s promise.

Tennessee American is responsible for the water and pipes, including the service line connecting the main in the street to the meter, but not for the pipes after the meter that bring water into our homes and businesses. And TAWC is taking inventory of every single account to make sure there is no lead in the pipes.
Older homes, built before 1930, could have lead pipes. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead-soldered joints. TAWC has built an interactive online map that will help you determine what your water line from the water main in the street to your home are. They are asking residents of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., and Lookout Mountain, Ga., to self-identify and self-report the material of the portion of the pipe that connects the water meter in the yard and continues into homes or businesses.

Go to tennesseeamwater.com/leadfacts and search for your address. Zoom in and you will see circles on the outline of your home. There is a circle with two halves. The half on the left should be blue, and ideally the half on the right should also be blue. If it’s white, we need to get to the bottom of it. And we can do it!

Click on the circle on your house and if unknown, go to the link that pops up in the square. You’ll be taken to a form that will walk you through the process on how to identify and report the material of your service line.
“Tennessee American Water continues to meet and surpass all local and federal drinking water standards,” said Lori Stenzel, manager of water quality and environmental compliance for Tennessee American Water. “This lead service line survey and self-identification process helps ensure transparency and supports our ongoing commitment to providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water service.”

Thank you, Tennessee American Water Company!
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by Ferris Robinson

Chaired by Susan Stein and Andrea Aaron, the Chambless Center’s 25th Bunny Hop will be May 1, at the Tennessee Pavilion at 6 p.m. and promises to once again be a fun filled family evening.

Twenty-five years ago, Gloria Miller, then director of development and now vice president of special projects, spoke with Susan and Andrea about the renovation needs at the agency, then known as The Children’s Home. The three women decided to create a fundraiser to support the improvements based on the Bunny Hop concept featured in Town & Country magazine, highlighting a family-focused event in New York City sponsored by FAO Schwarz. The idea of a joyful, family-centered fundraiser felt like a perfect fit for the Chattanooga community. Gloria secured permission to use beloved illustrations from Beatrix Potter, which are still featured today in the Bunny Hop coloring book every child there receives. Families, companies, churches, and supporters can dedicate the classic bunny images in honor of children, grandchildren, or to share well-wishes for the event.

This event has grown and grown through the 25 years, from 150 children initially attending to 500 expected this year. There will be a petting zoo, a silent auction, axe throwing, karaoke for kids, bouncy houses, balloon artists, face painting, a photo booth, and so much more, including food and beverages for kids and adults. There are so many ways to help the Chambliss Center besides attending, from corporate sponsorships, donations or buying a coloring book page.

Andrea says, “When the three of us were dreaming up how to make this a fun springtime family event that would help Chambliss, we honestly had no idea that our little dream would still be going strong 25 years later! Now we are hopeful it will still be going strong for another 25 years! We loved the idea of having an event for our friends and families that would help other families and their children! Such a beautiful circle of care!”

Co-chair Susan says, “We are deeply honored to return as this year’s chairs. It is exciting to report, to date the Bunny Hop has successfully raised an incredible $958,392 to benefit the children and families of Chambliss Center for Children. Now, as we celebrate this momentous 25th anniversary, let’s bring the Bunny Hop to the $1 million mark together as a community! It is our sincerest hope that you can celebrate this legacy alongside of us as we ensure that Chambliss Center for Children continues in its mission to enrich the lives of children, youth and families in our community.

For more information, got to chamblisscenter.org and select the Bunny Hop tab.
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by Gwin Tugman

Like some of the songs she gets her students to play, Kelly Ballard has a naturally upbeat way of discussing her life and time as a music and band teacher at Girls Preparatory School.
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She has been able to grow the band and orchestra participants at the independent girls’ school in North Chattanooga in her nearly three years there, she said positively, and she also credits the support of her fellow fine arts teaching colleagues and others.

“I work with amazing people. They are amazing educators,” she said. “I love coming to work every day.”

But in contrast with the supportive staff and a more crowded band and rehearsal room of students on school days now, two decades earlier she had to go it alone and literally move to the beat of her own drum. However, it was in a good, pioneering and also-supported way, as she, in 2005, successfully became the first female drum major in the history of the prestigious University of Tennessee Pride of the Southland Marching Band.

Then known as Kelly Bradshaw, she was able to beat out four other male finalists for the honor at this school that had previously had only female assistant drum majors.

As Ms. Ballard recently sat in her spacious practice room at the school during a teaching break and reminisced, she implied that her life has involved plenty of physical moves since college with various jobs. But it has always involved musical movements, too.

“I started the piano when I was 4 or 5 and I kept going,” she said of her young years growing up in Roanoke, Va. “I played piano and flute and was super into choir.”

Ms. Ballard also served as high school drum major for two years and said that and her other experiences in music leadership helped her become more outgoing. This would help down the road at UT, where she first played piccolo in the band for two years. The band, she said, had members playing smaller piccolos instead of flutes due to the tight marching in the school’s unique and famous circle drill performed at some of the halftime performances.

By the time her third year was getting ready to start, she decided to try out for the high-profile drum major position, which at UT also involves some gymnastics-like strutting and back stretching as well as conducting the band.

Although she had decided to apply and did some preparatory work with the band several weeks in advance, the main tryout involved a day of interviews, including a marching sequence and some strutting. And, if you passed the first round, you later led a rehearsal of band members.

“The whole day felt surreal,” she said, remembering that she had bought a dress suit for the interview and picked her favorite band song, which was the opening sequence to “The New World.”

The following Monday was when she was to learn if she had been selected. “During classes that day, that was all I could think about,” she said. “I went to choir rehearsal and then I saw my roommate stick her face in the door.”

She ran out into the hallway, she said, and there on the board was her name as the drum major. She had made history as the school’s first female drum major.

“I ran all over the place,” she recalled with excitement, even though more than two decades had passed. “I could not believe it. I called my dad, and he was speechless. It was amazing, really fun.”

She then remembered meeting with the band director, Dr. Gary Sousa, and he told her he was going to be as hard on her as he was on any male drum major, but she also quickly realized he was going to be in her corner, too, and support her. She eventually met the legendary and respected former band director, Dr. J. Julian, and, although she was nervous about meeting him, he gave her a supportive hug and welcomed her heartily to the exclusive club.

When the 2005 football season rolled around, she was able to get going well as the drum major, despite initially trying to see past a TV cameraman as the pregame performance of the first game was getting ready to start. The music all went well, but the Vols had their first bad season in several years under Coach Phillip Fulmer and finished only with a 5-6 record. 

This was in the early days of social media, with Facebook the primary source, and she remembered that somehow people were blaming the fact that the Vols were struggling in football on having a female drum major for the first time.

But the season in which she was greatly supported by the band included plenty of high moments as well. She was interviewed by some reporters at the Florida game in Gainesville, and the band got to play at Tiger Stadium in a game that was moved to a Monday night due to Hurricane Katrina. The team and band also took a rare trip up to Notre Dame, where she met former Fighting Irish walk-on star Rudy Ruettiger of the famous “Rudy” movie after she introduced herself to him.

“Rudy knew who I was,” she recalled. “He said, ‘I know about you. You are the lady drum major.’”

After finishing at UT, her life would become much quieter, but the music never stopped. In 2009, she married John Ballard, a TVA engineer who had played in the band at Hixson High. They would later have two sons, Bryan and James.

Kelly worked in special education at Big Ridge Elementary and taught some private music lessons. The latter halted with the COVID-19 outbreak beginning in 2020, when she home-schooled Bryan, who is scheduled to attend McCallie this fall.

“I was so bored and ready for a change and looking for private lessons,” she said of that time. 

She was soon hired at the former Cadek Conservatory that had been moved to GPS. From there, she learned about an opening at GPS, and following a full day of interviews with everyone from school head Megan Cover to some students and some mock conducting perhaps reminiscent of the also-stressful drum major audition, she was hired.

“Two days later they said they wanted to offer me the job,” she said. “I was so happy. I just remember thinking that I get to be the band director.”

She said the band and orchestra members have grown from 12 in each one when she started in the 2023-24 school year to 22 and 40, respectively, this year. “I’ve had so much fun,” she said, adding that this her first time to direct a band.

Kelly said she has also grown in her appreciation for the school. In fact, ending up at an all-girls school was not what she once imagined, but she says she more clearly sees how God’s plan for her life has now come together. One could say this woman who still wears orange on Fridays has found her own Rocky Top here.

“The girls are amazing,” she said. “They are so wonderful and kind and funny and smart. They are their own true selves here, and I’m glad the orchestra and band can be a part of that.”

Many at the school are also aware of her pioneering role of yesteryear due to a speech about her drum major experiences she gave her first year for Women’s History Month.

“It was so well received,” she recalled. “I still hear about it today.”

by John Shearer

The foreboding admonition from the soothsayer in William Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar,” “Beware the Ides of March,” seems to have taken on yet another sinister layer of concern in recent years. Since the words were first written and performed (generally believed by historians to have been in 1599), they have become a familiar catchphrase warning of a looming catastrophe, something wicked lying ahead, and other, similar forecasts of doom.
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So, what exactly are the ides of March? Julius Caesar created the “Julian” calendar, which consisted of four “long” months (March, May, July and October) each of which had 31 days. All the other months (considered “short” months) were made up of between 23 and 29 days. The Julian calendar was based upon the phases of the moon, of which there were three: The kalends, the nones and the ides. The kalends always occurred on the first day of each month, the nones on the fifth day of the shorter months or the seventh day of the longer months, and the ides were celebrated on the 13th or the 15th day during each of the four longer months.

There are varying opinions among historians as to whether the Julian calendar was based upon the phases of the moon or agriculture, on what days the kalends, nones and the ides were celebrated, as well as other bits of minutia which you might want to research yourself, in case Punxsutawney Phil (aka “The Groundhog”) saw his shadow on February 2 and scurried back into his underground den in shock for another six dark, cold weeks. Based on some of the frigid weather we’ve experienced thus far in 2026, quiet research in the warm comfort of one’s home sounds like a pretty good idea!

When Shakespeare penned “Julius Caesar,” England was at odds with most of Europe over its refusal to accept the Gregorian calendar (begun in 1582 utilized until 1752) over the Julian calendar.

It is generally accepted that the ides of March featured a full moon (seems that crazy things consistently expose themselves under the bright light of a full moon; again, there’s that familiar lunar connection with regard to the ides of March). The 15th of March also was a major festival honoring the might of the Roman military, thereby piling on even more drama to the untimely death of one of Rome’s greatest leaders.

Following Caesar’s execution in the Senate on that fateful 15th day of March, Rome was consumed in civil wars and the rise of Caesar’s adopted son, Octavian Augustus, who transformed the Republic into the beginning of Imperialism and the Roman Empire. From Shakespeare’s time till the present, this oft-repeated inauspicious phrase, the ides of March, “represents a warning against the dangers and possibilities of the concentrated power and the fragile path between popular rule and autocratic authority.”

And now we are in the month March, named to honor Mars, the Roman god of war. Ironically, March is the month from the Julian Calendar which brings with it a more pleasantly anticipated version of “March Madness.” Meanwhile, our magnificent nation is struggling. Not unlike the rise of the Roman Empire following Caesar’s execution and the civil unrest which followed, America is on the cusp of a potentially lethal downward spiral from history’s greatest country (warts and all) into something bearing little resemblance to the land that we have known and loved as it has evolved over the last 250 years. Our nation is teetering on the edge of a dangerous precipice, staring into a very dark abyss - our present-day ides of which we must beware. What has transpired throughout our country is a stark recognition of how deep and wide the chasm of our separation as fellow citizens has become.

Perhaps a beginning to the process of mending and healing the divisiveness under which we currently seem constantly to struggle just might be found in the words of author and spiritual teacher, Ram Dass. He and other artists, musicians and philosophers have also incorporated into their work a message of which we should all “be(a)ware” …

The wise ones know we’re in this together, and we’re all just walking each other home.

by Forde Kay

It’s still winter even though the hope of spring is in the air. Tree tips are swollen with buds about to burst, and shoots of bright green poke up out of dark brown earth.

We’re still wearing coats and gloves for the most part, so it’s hard to imagine sitting outside in the evening listening to music. But Reflection Riding’s Campfire Concert Series starts April 3 and runs through May 22. That last date is reserved for Tennessee Dead, a tribute band celebrating the music of the iconic Grateful Dead. Chances are if I’m familiar with the Grateful Dead, you are too.

Most of these concerts are on Friday evenings, but Randy Steele and the High Cold Wind takes the stage on April 25, a Saturday. You may know their music inside out, but I didn’t. The band is pretty new, formed in 2022. Called “high-energy and engaging,” the band skillfully plays instruments that include banjo, guitar, guitar, upright bass and more. Let’s just say it’s impossible to keep still and hard to stay blue when they are performing.

I went to my first Campfire Concert last summer, catching the very last one, a Phish tribute band. I don’t care if you are nuts about the music offered or not, this event is a very special and rare occasion. Reflection Riding is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, with views of the mountain range from picturesque fence-lined meadows and the wide open sky, all with the sun showing off as it sets. Really, just the opportunity to spend an evening watching the sky turn all shades of melon and pomegranate and settle into dusk as children run around playing tag and dancing and just scampering about in general is worth the price of admission.

Included in that admission is a beer or two from local brewery Hutton & Smith and as many s’mores as you want to eat. A blazing bonfire stays stoked and crackling, beckoning folks to gather around it and soak the whole experience in as the marshmallows turn a soft golden brown with the most delicate crust ever before being smashed between two graham crackers lined with Hershey’s chocolate. Wait! Let that chocolate melt a little from the hot marshmallow goo before taking your first bite.

Vendors are on site with food options, but you can bring your own picnic if you’d rather. Camping on that wide-open field is optional with a small up charge. (Imagine waking up to that sunrise!)

Bring a camp chair and maybe a blanket to stretch out on under the stars. And bring your kids or grandkids. No admission fee if they are under 12.

The Reflection Riding website states, “This series is a journey into the heart of what makes our community tick in a setting that’ll make your soul sing. As you tap your foot to the rhythm, you’re not just enjoying a show. You’re becoming part of our story. Every concert weaves you deeper into the fabric of our mission, connecting you to the land, the music, and the community we’re building together.

“So come on out, breathe in the fresh air, feel the music in your bones, and discover what happens when we combine the best of nature and culture. Each concert is an invitation to reflect, connect, and engage with both nature and our community. Join us as we harmonize conservation, education, and the arts, creating unforgettable evenings under the Tennessee sky.”

Sold.
Learn more at reflectionriding.org.
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by Ferris Robinson

It never occurred to me to travel to witness part of the Walk for Peace, the 2,300 mile walk that Buddhist monks began last fall. The mission of this pilgrimage is not to solicit donations, and they do not carry signs or banners to make their point. There are no speeches or opinions, no protests or performances. In Buddhism, peace is not demanded from the world; it is embodied. They walk because the walking itself is the teaching. Mindful steps. Mindful breaths. Mindful intentions. We are witness to a profound practice.
The monks believe violence does not heal violence. Peace only begins when hatred is not fed and compassion becomes action.

It never occurred to me to drive to some place in Georgia to witness the Walk for Peace until I saw a Facebook post by Darin Wright, who said she jumped out of bed one morning and felt compelled to witness the walk; she went immediately because they were just getting further away. Inspired by her friend Jean Anne Gardner’s post about traveling to witness this, Darin posted, “Being in their presence was powerful even as they passed by. I truly wanted to follow.”

After witnessing the walk, Jean Anne shared her experience on social media, noting the unassuming, steady freely-given kindness of the monks and also the dog that travels with them, Aloka, a creature alert to the world but not disturbed by it.

“But what truly took my breath away were the people who came to meet them.

“The crowds were wide and diverse, children, old folks, families, people of different races, faiths, and languages. Some were curious, some reverent, some hopeful.

“I left reminded that peace is not an idea. It is an action. It is a choice. And sometimes, it looks like walking together toward something better, one step at a time.

“On an ordinary stretch of road, with monks and children and strangers offering flowers and open hands, it felt clear ...we are not lost ...we are, even now, still on the road to Good Hope,” she posted.

Timothy Thompson, (HEMP the artist) is a photojournalist following and documenting the walk from Alabama. He agreed to share this post with the Mountain Mirror.

“I’ve been trying to find the right words for what I witnessed, because “a group of monks walked past” doesn’t even touch it.

“This is the Walk for Peace, a 2,300-mile pilgrimage on foot from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. It began October 26, 2025, and it’s expected to take around 120 days as they move through about 10 states with one simple mission: carry peace into public space, not as a slogan, but as a practice.

“And what made it hit me the hardest is where I caught them.

“McDonald’s. Waffle House. Power lines. Traffic. The usual American rush. The kind of scenery that tells your brain “hurry up, consume, keep moving.” Then here comes this line of discipline and devotion, robes moving like a quiet river through the loudest kind of modern backdrop. It felt like a reminder that peace doesn’t need perfect conditions. Peace is supposed to be strong enough to walk straight through the middle of our distractions.

“They aren’t doing this as a show. They walk with intention, and people are watching because it’s rare to see that kind of consistency. Thousands have been following them online, and when they enter a town, you can feel the atmosphere change because everyone instinctively knows this is bigger than a photo.

“If you’ve been keeping up with their story, you also know this isn’t a soft journey. In November, near Dayton, Texas, a truck hit their escort vehicle and it struck the monks, injuring multiple people. One monk suffered severe injuries and later had his leg amputated. And even with that pain and disruption, the walk has continued. That part matters, because it proves the message. Peace isn’t fragile. Peace is resilient.

“And then there’s Aloka, the dog walking with them, moving like a symbol of loyalty and gentleness alongside the whole pilgrimage. Something about that dog being right there in the formation makes the whole thing feel even more human, even more grounded.

“As the photographer, my goal wasn’t to interrupt them. I wanted to honor their pace, their route, their quiet. So I stayed out of the way and let the moment be what it was, while still capturing it for people who weren’t there and for the people who were there but didn’t realize they were watching history in real time.

“If you saw them, too, tell me where you were standing and what you felt. And if you didn’t, let these images remind you that peace is not a mood. Peace is movement. Peace is repetition. Peace is choosing your inner posture even when the world stays loud.”

I wish it had occurred to me to get in the car and drive to wherever they were. Because it was something I needed to see.
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by Ferris Robinson