Steps Toward Peace: The Walk for Peace Passes Through Alexandria, Virginia

On Monday, February 9, 2026, COVERED. by KLS bore witness to something rarely seen on the streets of Old Town Alexandria. A group of Buddhist monks from the Hương Đạo Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, made their way through the city as part of the Walk for Peace — a 2,300-mile pilgrimage from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., promoting peace, compassion, and nonviolence. Alexandria was one of the final stops before the monks reached the nation's capital, and the city received them with open arms.

108 Days on Foot

The walk began on October 26, 2025, and spanned approximately 2,300 miles over 108 days. Despite harrowing events and hazardous weather conditions, the monks' journey remained centered on promoting peace, compassion, and mindfulness. They walked through ice, snow, and cold. They walked through the South, through the Carolinas, through Virginia — escorted by law enforcement, greeted by strangers who became supporters, and followed by a global audience that grew with every step.

Their Facebook page grew from zero to 1 million followers by January 11, 2026, and reached 2 million just eleven days later. By the time they reached Alexandria, the world was watching.

Joining the monks throughout their journey was Aloka, a rescue dog who became a symbolic figure of the pilgrimage. Wherever the monks walked, Aloka walked too.

Through Old Town

The monks entered Alexandria at the city line at the 1200 block of South Washington Street, proceeding northbound through Old Town to Christ Church at Cameron and North Washington Streets. The Alexandria Police Department provided a rolling escort, and crowds lined the streets to quietly observe the procession — residents, visitors, and onlookers who simply felt compelled to show up.

"We walk not to protest, but to awaken the peace that already lives within each of us," said Bhikkhu Pannakara, spiritual leader of the Walk for Peace. "The Walk for Peace is a simple yet meaningful reminder that unity and kindness begin within each of us and can radiate outward to families, communities, and society as a whole."

A Proclamation at Christ Church

At Christ Church, Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins presented the monks with a City proclamation recognizing their message of peace and compassion. \Following a brief rest and lunch, the monks addressed attendees gathered outside Christ Church — remarks that lasted approximately 45 minutes to an hour. It was a rare moment of stillness in the middle of a city — a community pausing together to receive a message that needed no amplification.

Virginia Honors the Walk

Alexandria was not the only Virginia stop that carried official weight. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger issued her first official proclamation as governor, designating February 2, 2026 as Walk for Peace Day in the Commonwealth. Speaking to the crowd with the monks gathered behind her, Spanberger said their national journey would "make clear to the people of the United States and the world that when you believe in something, you can bring people together in common cause."

The Final Steps

From Alexandria, the monks continued into Arlington before completing their journey in Washington, D.C. on February 10, 2026 — arriving at American University for a public event, then marching to the National Cathedral for a planned interfaith ceremony, before a concluding peace gathering at the Lincoln Memorial.

The monks' top priority throughout the entire journey had been connecting with people who came out to greet them. In Alexandria, that connection was felt. The streets were quieter than usual that Monday morning — not because the city had emptied, but because it had paused. And in that pause, something worth covering happened.