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PeaceMaker The First Pilgrimage 1998 |
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PeaceMaker The First Pilgrimage 1998 |
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Beginnings || Gulf War || Train Accident
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It all began Jan. 1, 1998. Another pilgrim walking for peace takes to the road. Following the original route of Peace Pilgrim, he would be making a 45th anniversary pilgrimage for Peace. Starting along the route of the Rose Bowl Parade, "PeaceMaker" Earl J. Standberry II walked just ahead of the parade while the crowds were lined up awaiting its approach. "PeaceMaker" and some "Friends of Peace Pilgrim" who accompanied him along the parade route, passed out Steps Toward Inner Peace booklets to any who cared to have one. Earl wears a blue tunic just as Peace Pilgrim did when she began her famous walk. Peace's original lettered tunic read "PEACE PILGRIM" on the front and "WALKING 5000 MILES FOR WORLD PEACE" on the back. Earl’s tunic says "PEACE PILGRIM'S 45TH ANNIVERSARY WALK FOR PEACE" on the front and "WAKING COAST TO COAST FOR PEACE" on the back. Peace Pilgrim walked and she talked and she witnessed about inner and outer peace to the many people she met during the 28 ½ years of her pilgrimage. She touched the lives of people everywhere she went and her words and story are still inspiring them today. Peace Pilgrim proved without a doubt that a person who has inner peace can get along just fine without having a cent. She proved this over and over during the course of her life on the road. The secret that she gladly shared with all she met along the way was all about how to control the ego. Peace Pilgrims’s life, her story has been recorded and there is a center to carry on her work in Hemet, CA. in the home of John and Ann Rush. Every day they receive calls and letters asking for "Peace Pilgrim" books, tapes and videos, which they gladly send to all who ask. The Center is called Friends of Peace Pilgrim. Anyone who desires to know more about "Peace Pilgrim" can write the center at this address: Friends of Peace Pilgrim, 43480 Cedar Ave., Hemet CA 92544. There is also an Internet site for Peace Pilgrim. Not at all a look alike for "Peace Pilgrim", Earl is a young black man, very tall, and handsome and very much like "Peace Pilgrim" in that in his heart burns a desire to do something for peace.
Like "Peace Pilgrim" his message is simple. "overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love." He too is walking penniless, walking until given lodging and fasting until given food. |
The Train Accident - Earl's Account (written in July 1998) Dear Friends of the PeaceMaker I first want to thank each and every one of you for your prayers and support during my untimely accident which occurred on March 18th, 1998. I first want to share this story to bring you up to date. On March 18th, I the PeaceMaker boarded a train, a freight train to Tucson Arizona from Lordsburg, New Mexico to retrieve "Steps Toward Inner Peace" booklets which were sent to Tucson, Arizona which I pass out along my journey. Approximately 8:30 a.m. March 18th, I came to the realization that it was too light to go into the Tucson railyard for fear that the bulls or police would catch me. Instead I decided to get off the train in Benson, AZ and have the books sent to Benson which was very close to Tucson. As the train approached Benson the speed increased to about 60 miles an hour which made it difficult to get off the train. As the train left Benson it only slowed down to about 40 miles an hour and me thinking that I could run 40 miles an hour decided that it was now or never. As I stepped off the train to get a running motion and push away from the train my feet slipped from under me. I couldn’t hang on any longer. I let go and was sucked under the train for a few seconds and spewed out into a sitting position next to the railroad tracks where I saw my right leg bent like no leg should be bent. I could not exactly see the extent of the injury but could see blood dripping from my right leg. Angry at myself for doing this to myself along this pilgrimage, I consulted the only one that I could which was my guide, God. Sitting there for about an hour talking to God and coming to the realization that I may lose my leg and life, a railroad worker appeared on the tracks. After noticing me he contacted 911 and the Benson ambulance service arrived. As they were on their way this railroad worker held my hand and comforted me and told me that he was not originally scheduled to come down the tracks on that day. And then I knew this was God’s plan. The Benson ambulance service arrived and cut off the clothing to see the wound and placed me on the board with a neck brace. They also informed me that the helicopter from Tucson was on its way. Once the helicopter arrived the lady mentioned that my leg could not be placed in the helicopter in the position that it was bent and it had to be straightened out. I ask her to make the pain go away and she did. It is something that is given to a person that is in such trauma that it is amnesia induced so I don’t remember the ride to the Tucson Medical Center. Upon arriving at Tucson Medical Center, Dr. Michael Parseghian who was on call was prepared to amputate my right leg. Still in the induced state that I was in, he asked me to move my toes which I did. The main artery and the main nerve were still intact. He was amazed and at that point decided to save the leg. God worked through Dr. Parseghian hands to put my leg back together which now I realize was my greatest blessing and gift to show the world that we are a part of each other and only through faith can things come to a peaceful ending. I had thought that my pilgrimage had stopped but only came to realize that my pilgrimage had taken a different turn. I continued to do my pilgrimage work of spreading peace, love, joy, and faith at Tucson Medical Center. The staff, the patients, and the visitors were so friendly and so nice that they helped me learn about myself as well. In return I showed them through God anything is possible. After two weeks I began to walk on my leg which the doctors were amazed at and now only four months after the accident I am walking without crutches. My Pilgrimage through God’s will, will continue August 13th 1998 as I leave Tucson headed for New York. I may have to accept rides as I am far behind schedule but the important fact is that the leg is healing through the miracle of God. Faith and love is our only way toward inner peace and eventually world peace. My plans are to speak to President Clinton about developing a Peace Department in the White House and doing a presentation at the United Nations for world peace. Everything I am doing is in memory of the Peace Pilgrim who started walking for Peace in 1953 and continued walking until 1981 when she met an untimely death or as she calls it, moving on to a "freer life". You can stay posted of the progress or contact me at this web site and I encourage each and every one of you to contact the Peace Pilgrim Center at www.peacepilgrim.org and order books which are free for the asking, about peace and what each and every one of us can do to achieve that peace. After 32 years of taking from mankind I only want to serve mankind now and give back as much as I took because God has allowed me this opportunity. My leg is on and the walk shall continue. I am at the present moment trying to get the pictures of my leg put on this web site because so many people are impressed with the work that God has done that I have had orders to see these pictures. We are trying to make them readily available through this web site. Of course there will be a disclaimer for those with weak stomachs. Again I want to thank each and every one of you for being you because as Peace Pilgrim said, "We are each a cell in the body of humanity". We do need each other to survive. Wishing you all Peace and Love Pictures of my leg. (These pictures are very graphic and not for the squeemish!!!) Audio Account - 1min. 20 sec. Real Audio file (165k) |
Revised - 4/10/2000
