Peace Pilgrim

She was born Mildred Lisette Norman (7/18/08-7/7/81), and was the first woman to walk the entire Appalachian Trail in one season. "Steps Toward Inner Peace" is a booklet that was published from a transcript of a conversation she had on KPFK radio in Los Angeles in 1964. This short essay documents very well her attitudes and beliefs about life and personal transformation.

Background

Born on a poultry farm in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, she was the oldest of three (3) children. Her parents were German immigrants. She eloped with Stanley Ryder in 1933, moved to Philadelphia is 1939, and divorced in 1946.

Commitment and Travels

When she began her Pilgrimage in 1953, the Korean War was taking place, and she continued her walk for 28 years, throughout the Vietnam War. She spoke at colleges, universities, churches, and on radio and TV. She only possessed the clothes on her back, and carried a pencil, notepad, toothbrush, and comb. She slept outdoors unless offered shelter, and would not ask for food unless offered.

She wore a blue tunic with “Peace Pilgrim” on the front, and “25,000 miles for Peace” on the back. She had no organizational backing, carried no money, and vowed to "remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace, walking until given shelter and fasting until given food." She stopped counting miles after she reached the 25,000 plateau.

Although she seldom accepted rides, ironically she was killed in an automobile accident while being driven to a speaking engagement near Knox, Indiana in 1981. At the time of her death, she was crossing the United States for the seventh time. She was cremated, and her ashes were interred in a family plot near her childhood home in New Jersey.

Friends of Peace Pilgrim

Information on her life and message is offered freely by an all-volunteer non-profit organization called "Friends of Peace Pilgrim". Over 400,000 copies of the book, “Peace Pilgrim: Her Life and Work in Her Own Words” have been published and distributed since 1983, as well as over 1.5 million copies of the booklet, “Steps Toward Inner Peace” in over 100 countries, and translated into 12 languages for the book, and 20 languages for the booklet.

Peace Pilgrim received the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in 1992. Prior to her journey she worked in the human services area. Her message of peace was both global and personal. In family life she is a model for dealing with child bad behavior in a gentle and assertive way without harsh discipline. The following quote sums up the essence of her philosophy.

“In order for the world to become peaceful, people must become more peaceful. Among mature people war would not be a problem - it would be impossible. In their immaturity people want, at the same time, peace and the things which make war. However, people can mature just as children grow up. Yes, our institutions and our leaders reflect our immaturity, but as we mature we will elect better leaders and set up better institutions. It always comes back to the thing so many of us wish to avoid: working to improve ourselves.”

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