Walk For Peace Inspires Strong Community Turnout In Orleans

ORLEANS – Despite less-than-ideal weather on Saturday, March 7, community members gathered to take part in a citizen-led “Walk for Peace,” inspired by the nationwide movement led by a group of Buddhist monks.

Sunshine Singleton, the artist and woodworker at Cape Cod Landshark, spearheaded the effort, promoting it on her social media channels and by word-of-mouth. The turnout, she said, still surprised her. 

“This is overwhelming to see all of you here today,” she said. “Thank you for choosing to be here this morning.” 

The walk took place at Nauset Beach at 9 a.m. Participants braved the rain and wind to show their solidarity with the movement. 

Singleton first got the idea from a social media follower after she had committed to a personal 100-day journey of daily walks. The undertaking, she said, was solely for her own spiritual journey as well as to keep moving during the winter months. She completed the goal, with the “Walk of Peace” taking place on her 120th day. 

After chronicling the journey on social media, a follower reached out and noted the similarities between Singleton’s walking and the nationwide “Walk for Peace” movement started by the Venerable Monks. 

About 20 Buddhist monks completed a 2,300-mile “Walk for Peace” from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C. The 15-week journey was led by Venerable Pannakara, who described the walk as a “spiritual offering focused on mindfulness, compassion, and inner peace.” It ended last month and attracted millions of viewers and support. 

Singleton was moved by the symbolism, deciding to organize her own gathering in solidarity. She described the community action as a "non-partisan, non-religious event.” In opening remarks, she illustrated the meaning behind the grassroots effort. 

“Now, someone said to me yesterday, ‘what’s the point of this walk? There’s a war going on. You think walking is going to change that?’” she said. “And to that, I respond yes, because inherently, I think all of us have the power in our own subtle way to plant seeds of influence and loving kindness. You never know what small action you take today, what impact that could have days, weeks or years from now.”

Although it was too windy on the beach for signs, Singleton decided to tape them over the windows of her van, which also sported a flag with the universal sign of peace waving on top. She also brought rocks painted with encouraging phrases, uplifting images and bright colors to drop along the shore as the group walked to the Nauset Spit and back. 

“Smiling at a stranger, holding the door open for someone, letting someone make a left turn on 6A — they are all small acts, but they plant seeds of kindness,” she said. “And that is what we are doing here today: planting seeds and creating ripples that could eventually change the world.”