{"id":164897,"date":"2026-02-14T19:16:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T19:16:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/164897\/"},"modified":"2026-02-14T19:16:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T19:16:32","slug":"a-walk-for-peace-photos-of-the-fort-worth-monks-journey-to-washington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/164897\/","title":{"rendered":"A Walk for Peace: photos of the Fort Worth monks’ journey to Washington"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Maria Crane, Fort Worth Report
February 14, 2026<\/p>\n

Nearly two dozen Buddhist monks who with their dog Aloka participated in a cross-country Walk for Peace<\/a> return to the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in east Fort Worth on Feb. 14, marking 112 days since their departure.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Their journey began in late October<\/a>, when they headed south toward Houston before moving east across the nation. They stopped at state capitols and historic landmarks along their way to Washington, D.C.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After walking 2,300 miles, they reached the nation\u2019s capital on Feb. 10, touching the hearts of millions.<\/p>\n

The Fort Worth Report partnered with fellow newsrooms participating in the CatchLight Local<\/a> and Report for America<\/a> programs to share moments of the monks\u2019 journey.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The monks also widely shared videos from the historic trek on their Walk for Peace social media pages.<\/p>\n

Day 0 \u2014 FORT WORTH<\/p>\n

The Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth invited guests on Oct. 19 to a press conference<\/a> in preparation of the walk.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Monks sit at the front of the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth during a press conference on Oct. 19, 2025, announcing the Walk for Peace. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Tue Nhan Bhikkhu, vice president of the temple also known as the Rev. Nguyen, poses for a photo Oct. 19, 2025, following the press conference announcing the Walk for Peace. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n

Day 1 \u2014 FORT WORTH<\/p>\n

The monks began their walk<\/a> on Oct. 26 leaving the temple to head toward the Texas Capitol in Austin.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Buddhist monks from Fort Worth\u2019s Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center begin their Walk for Peace initiative Oct. 26, 2025. (Marissa Greene | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Buddhist monks from Fort Worth\u2019s Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center walk through the Stop Six neighborhood during their Walk for Peace initiative Oct. 26, 2025. (Marissa Greene | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n

Day 25 \u2014 HOUSTON AREA<\/p>\n

While making their way out of the Houston area, a car struck one of the monks\u2019 escort vehicles on Nov. 19<\/a>. Some of the monks who were walking on the shoulder of U.S. Route 90 were hit. Bhante Dam Phommasan suffered an injury to his leg. On Dec. 3, he underwent surgery<\/a> to amputate his leg. He was released from the hospital Dec. 10.<\/p>\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DSHL0Ksjl5B\/?igsh=cDd3dDNxanAyMmlj\n<\/p>\n

Day 41 \u2014 NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI<\/p>\n

The monks continued through to Louisiana and by Day 41, the monks crossed into Natchez, Mississippi<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, at the front of the line, is the spiritual leader of the Walk for Peace. He led other Buddhist monks and their dog, Aloka, as they crossed the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge from Louisiana and arrived in Natchez on Dec. 5, 2025. (Vickie D. King | Mississippi Today<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/A Buddhist monk greets a mother and her child as he and other monks arrive in Natchez, Mississippi, on Dec. 5, 2025. (Vickie D. King | Mississippi Today<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Day 55 \u2014 SELMA, ALABAMA\u00a0<\/p>\n

The monks greeted police officers and other law enforcement officials, many of whom presented the monks with commemorative badges or pins representing their agencies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The monks stopped in Selma, crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge<\/a>, now a National Historic Landmark, that was the site of the \u201cBloody Sunday\u201d beatings during a Civil Rights march for African-American voting rights in 1965.<\/p>\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DSkoCU4goHY\/?hl=en\n<\/p>\n

Day 91 \u2014 RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA<\/p>\n

Between the 55 and 91 days, the monks traveled through Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. In South Carolina, Aloka the dog underwent surgery<\/a> in early January.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/A child holds a peaceful sign during the monks\u2019 stop in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Jan. 24, 2026. (Walter G\u00f3mez | Enlace Latino NC<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Despite the cold weather, thousands gathered in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Jan. 24, 2026, to see the Fort Worth Buddhist monks on their Walk for Peace journey. (Walter G\u00f3mez | Enlace Latino NC<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Day 101 \u2014 ASHLAND, VIRGINIA<\/p>\n

Just after 100 days, the monks crossed into Henrico County in Virginia<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"The Walk for Peace, led by 44-year-old Buddhist monk Bhikkhu Pannakara, passes the Brook Run shopping center in Henrico County Feb. 3, 2026. (Dina Weinstein | Henrico Citizen<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/A group of children and teachers wait for the arrival of the Buddhist monks along Brook Road Feb. 3, 2026, in Henrico County. (Dina Weinstein | Henrico Citizen<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Day 105 \u2014 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY<\/a>, VIRGINIA<\/p>\n

\"\"The monks participating in the Walk for Peace approach the Dumfries Town Hall on Feb. 7, 2026. (Doug Stroud for Prince William Times<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Children and adults greet the venerable monks as they approach Dumfries Town Hall on Feb. 7, 2026. (Doug Stroud for Prince William Times<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/One of the venerable monks participating in the Walk for Peace is bundled up to endure the frigid temperatures the group endured on their journey through southeastern Prince William County on Feb. 7, 2026. (Doug Stroud for Prince William Times<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Day 108 \u2014 WASHINGTON, D.C.<\/p>\n

The monks crossed into Washington, D.C.<\/a>, on Feb. 10, completing their 2,300-mile journey across the nation. Thousands showed up to see the monks at an American University arena and at an interfaith gathering at the Washington National Cathedral.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Buddhist monks walk up Arizona Avenue NW in the Walk for Peace initiative Feb. 10, 2026, shortly after crossing into Washington, D.C. (Sarah L. Voisin for Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara speaks to the crowd at the Washington National Cathedral on Feb. 10, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Sarah L. Voisin for Fort Worth Report)
\n\"\"\/Buddhist monks participating in the Walk for Peace arrive at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Thousands came out to see them. (Sarah L. Voisin for Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n

Day 109 \u2014 WASHINGTON, D.C.<\/p>\n

Crowds waited at the Lincoln Memorial in the nation\u2019s capital for the monks\u2019 peace ceremony<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Buddhist monks participating in the Walk for Peace hold a peace gathering and concluding ceremony at Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Day 109, Feb. 11, 2026. (Sarah L. Voisin for Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Aloka is pictured. Buddhist monks participating in the Walk for Peace hold a peace gathering and concluding ceremony at Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Day 109, Feb. 11, 2026. (Sarah L. Voisin for Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Buddhist monks participating in the Walk for Peace hold a peace gathering and concluding ceremony at Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Day 109, Feb. 11, 2026. (Sarah L. Voisin for Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Buddhist monks participating in the Walk for Peace hold a peace gathering and concluding ceremony at Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Day 109, Feb. 11, 2026. (Sarah L. Voisin for Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Buddhist monks participating in the Walk for Peace hold a peace gathering and concluding ceremony at Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Day 109, Feb. 11, 2026. (Sarah L. Voisin for Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n

Day 112 \u2014 FORT WORTH<\/p>\n

The Buddhist monks returned to their Historic Stop Six neighborhood on<\/a> Feb. 14. Hundreds welcomed the sangha, or community of monks, as they emerged from their bus at Eastover Park. Many followed behind as they walked their last mile home to their center, where they were greeted with rose petals, traditional lion dances and chants.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Bhikkhu Pannakara, also known as Rev. Nguyen, walks off the bus during the Fort Worth Buddhist monks homecoming Feb. 14, 2026, at Eastover Park in the Historic Stop Six neighborhood. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Aloka the peace dog leads the way home to the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center on Feb. 14, 2026. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Hundreds of people wait for the monks arrival at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center on Feb. 14, 2026. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Bhikkhu Pannakara, also known as Rev. Nguyen, (left) bows down in reverence to Venerable Ratanagu\u1e47a, abbot of Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center, during the Fort Worth monks’ homecoming Feb. 14, 2026. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Bhikkhu Pannakara, also known as Rev. Nguyen, wears pins of various police departments and agencies from across the nation at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center on Feb. 14, 2026. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)
\n\"\"\/Yen Tran, a member of the temple, prays with the monks during their receiving ceremony at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center on Feb. 14, 2026. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Bhikkhu Pannakara, also known as Rev. Nguyen, thanks the hundreds and millions who watched the monks’ 2,300 miles journey for peace. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n

Maria Crane is a multimedia journalist for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at maria.crane@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/2026\/02\/14\/a-walk-for-peace-photos-of-the-fort-worth-monks-journey-to-washington\/”>article<\/a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/fortworthreport.org”>Fort Worth Report<\/a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nd\/4.0\/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License<\/a>.<img src=”https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fortworthreport.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/cropped-favicon.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;quality=80&amp;ssl=1″ style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”><\/p>\n

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