Marblehead Honors Mothers with Walk for Peace

Community members will gather on Mother's Day for a silent 3.2-mile Walk for Peace inspired by a recent national demonstration by Buddhist Monks.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:25pm

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An impressionistic, dreamlike scene of people walking in a hazy, colorful landscape, conveying a sense of tranquility and mindfulness.The peaceful, meditative walk through Marblehead's streets will allow participants to reflect on cultivating inner and outer harmony.Fort Worth Today

The Walk for Peace, organized by Community Volunteers for Peace, is scheduled for May 10 and will begin at 1 p.m. at Stramski Park in Marblehead, Massachusetts. The walk is inspired by a group of Buddhist monks who traveled from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., between October 2025 and February 2026, drawing widespread attention for their quiet focus on peace and nonviolence.

Why it matters

The walk is designed to create a shared sense of purpose and reflection on peace, especially for mothers on Mother's Day. Organizers hope the event will bring the community together during a time when things can feel divided, allowing participants to reclaim peace within themselves and express it outwardly.

The details

The 3.2-mile walk will include a stop at Abbot Hall for a brief ceremony before returning to the starting point at Stramski Park. Participants will walk in silence and single file, mirroring the practice of the Buddhist monks. Those unable to complete the full walk are invited to join at Abbot Hall around 2 p.m. The event will conclude with a casual reception on the lawn at Stramski Park.

  • The Walk for Peace is scheduled for May 10, 2026.
  • The walk will begin at 1 p.m. at Stramski Park in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

The players

Community Volunteers for Peace

The group that organized the Walk for Peace event.

Ellen Petersen

A member and organizer of Community Volunteers for Peace who was inspired by the Buddhist monks' journey and helped bring the idea for the local walk to fruition.

James Ashton

A volunteer with the organizing group who helped develop the idea for the Marblehead Walk for Peace after following the monks' journey.

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What they’re saying

“As the monks reminded us throughout their journey, peace is not something we wait for or find 'out there.' It begins as a quiet ember within each of us, tended through attention and intention, and then ripples outward to our families, our community, and beyond.”

— Ellen Petersen, Community Volunteer for Peace member and organizer

“We were all so moved by it. It was just so simple, but so powerful.”

— James Ashton, Volunteer with the organizing group

“This is really about walking as a kind of meditation. In that tradition, it's not a protest or a rally. It's a way of being present and holding an intention.”

— James Ashton, Volunteer with the organizing group

What’s next

The Walk for Peace is free and open to the public. More information is available on Eventbrite.

The takeaway

The Marblehead Walk for Peace is an opportunity for the community to come together, reflect on peace, and express it through a shared experience of silent walking. Organizers hope the event will inspire participants to reclaim peace within themselves and spread it outward to their families and the broader community.