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Walkers put heart and sole in cross-country peace trek
By Sharon K. Wolfe
swolfe@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL — Rosemary Moews Scarbeary of Bloomington traveled by city bus and then in her motorized wheelchair to greet people walking across the country marching for peace.

“It’s what I need to do,” said Scarbeary as she sat in sweltering temperatures on the College Avenue overpass at Illinois State University Monday night, waiting for the arrival of five people making a cross-country trek.

Two of them, Ashley Casale, 19, of Clinton Corners, N.Y., and Michael Israel, 18, Jackson, Calif., have crossed deserts, the Rocky Mountains and now the Great Plains, all in support of peace and an end to the Iraq war.

Three others — Art Brown, Garberville, Calif.; Antonio Keis, Omaha., Neb.; and Isabelle Salmon, Seattle — have joined them along the way at various points. They left Monday morning from rural Mackinaw. Several others joined them for the day.

Local supporters, mostly from the Bloomington-Normal Citizens for Peace & Justice group, greeted them at the overpass, standing with banners and drawing some honks from motorists.

The walk, which has garnered national media attention, began May 21 in San Francisco and will end 3,000 miles later in September in Washington, D.C.

Casale started a Web site promoting a march for peace and sent fliers to colleges nationwide, but Israel was initially the only one who joined her and stayed.

The pair camp out or are given shelter in people’s homes, along with food, drink and replacement shoes.

“People hear about us — they just show up (to help),” said Israel. “It has really built up my faith in human beings.”

Wide range of responses

Responses by people have been diverse, Casale said, and not everyone is supportive.

Casale said she stepped closer to answer a woman’s question in Danvers on Monday afternoon and was ordered away from her yard and threatened with a call to police. But just outside town, another woman offered the group cold water, and Danvers Police Chief Jeff Tapke stopped to check on their well-being after getting a call from someone worried about the intense heat and humidity.

Casale had been walking in sandals with the heels completely worn through until Monday, when she and Israel were given new sandals.

“Ashley has really tough feet,” said Israel.

Casale said earlier Monday in rural Danvers the walk was more than a protest of the Iraq war, but was about promoting non-violence everywhere and sustaining the environment instead of destroying it through war.

She also said they did not have a support vehicle, or “sag wagon,” until they got to Des Moines, Iowa, so they had to carry everything from San Francisco, including camping gear. The walkers were staying with local supporters Monday night.

“What else would I do about this?” said Salmon, who joined the trek after the seeing the pair in Omaha.

Scarbeary said she was on the sidelines and not an activist during the Vietnam War while she was in college, but she vowed to do something when the chance came again. She joined the peace coalition several years ago and has been to about a dozen events.

Take a look
Ashley Casale, 19, right, of upstate New York, and Michael Israel, 18, left, of Jackson, California began their journey for peace in San Francisco and are walking across the country to Washington D.C. bringing a message of peace. A group of about 50 people met them in Normal Monday evening where they spent the night to continue their trek to the capitol Tuesday morning. (Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK) August, 6, 2007)
Ashley Casale, 19, right, of upstate New York, shows her feet after a long day walking across central Illinois. The March for Peace began in San Francisco walking across the country to Washington D.C. bringing a message of peace. A group of about 50 people met them in Normal Monday evening where they spent the night to continue their trek to the capitol Tuesday morning. (Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK) August, 6, 2007)
Cesily Hunt of Flossmore, right, said farewell to Isabelle Salmon of Seattle, Washington, who will continue on with Ashley Casale, 19, center, of upstate New York on the March for Peace. Hunt walked the day with the group. The March for Peace began in San Francisco walking across the country to Washington D.C. bringing a message of peace. (Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK) August, 6, 2007)
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Reader comments on this story - 4 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Mer wrote on Aug 9, 2007 5:31 AM:

" My little sister is just incredible! I am flying out today and I'll be meeting up with her tomorrow to join part of the march. I can't wait. She is such a wonderful kid and everyone should support and help them. Even if their political views are not supported, imagine taking your entire summer to walk across desert and mountains with just one other person. Imagine sleeping behind deserted buildings and going into the woods to use the bathroom. Picture not showering for a week, and then think of how dirty you would feel after just one day of walking twenty-five miles in 100 degree weather. I applaud them. Something must be helping them because I don't think the average person could commit and complete such a feat. "

Gregg Brown wrote on Aug 7, 2007 7:08 PM:

" It was an honor to meet them yesterday evening. That kind of commitment releases much spiritual energy. I hope it inspires many to join them to work against this war and for a peaceful and just world. "

Robin wrote on Aug 7, 2007 9:07 AM:

" Yeah X, I agree. These folks are out there putting their views on the line and talking to people. It is nice to have people willing to talk rather than yell and call names. Based on past experience, that will come here in the comments soon. "

X wrote on Aug 7, 2007 8:42 AM:

" I heard about these kids this morning on a talk radio station out of Chicago. They talked to the gal, Ashley, on the air. Regardless of what my personal views might be on this war in Iraq, I applaud these kids for getting out here and doing what they are doing. To have such drive and conviction is amazing. The journey they have made thus far is awesome and I hope the rest of their journey brings them safely to D.C. You guys rock! "
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