Drawn by a message of peace and a sense that the moment was something rare, several Clarendon County residents traveled to Columbia on Saturday, Jan. 10, to observe, walk alongside or volunteer in support of Buddhist monks making a 2,300-mile pilgrimage from Texas to Washington, D.C.
The monks, who began their journey in late 2025, passed through the capital city as part of a months-long walk promoting peace, compassion and unity. Their arrival drew large crowds to the Statehouse grounds and surrounding streets, including residents from Clarendon County who said they felt compelled to witness the journey firsthand.
Terri Jo Gregory, director of John’s Place, said she decided to go after following the monks’ journey online.
“I’ve been following them a little bit on Facebook, and it just felt like a once-in-a-lifetime event,” Gregory said. “I wanted to be part of it, and I believe in their mission for peace.”
Gregory said she and a friend watched from the Statehouse grounds as the monks approached in silence, surrounded by thousands of onlookers.
“I was overwhelmed with the crowd — there were so many people,” she said. “But for the mass amount of people that were out there, I was impressed with how they tried to keep the volume of the cheering down. You could tell people were trying to be respectful.”
She described the experience as deeply emotional, recalling how strangers shared quiet moments of connection.
“There was this woman next to me, a total stranger, and she grabbed my arm and said, ‘Can you believe we’re here?’” Gregory said. “We shared that feeling of excitement and emotion together. It was just really neat.”
Gregory said seeing Aloka, the rescue dog who accompanies the monks, added a human touch.
“He seemed real — like a pet,” Gregory said. “I just thought that was neat.”
After leaving Columbia, Gregory said she felt grateful she had changed her plans to attend.
“I was very thankful that I went,” she said. “It wasn’t about religion or conversion. It was about peace, and that’s something everyone can believe in.”
Margaret Walker, a nurse and community organizer, traveled to Columbia after volunteering to assist with medical support for the monks. She said volunteers were asked to help provide foot care, basic supplies and logistical support.
“They put out a call for volunteers, and they really took anybody who wanted to help,” Walker said.
Walker said she interacted with the monks during medical support efforts rather than watching the walk itself.
“They were very, very silent,” she said. “Only one speaks. The rest nod and smile. There was just a peaceful aura around them.”
She said volunteers were briefed ahead of time on protocols to ensure respectful interaction.
“No pictures were allowed, noise was kept to a minimum, and if we offered them anything, we followed very specific guidelines,” Walker said. “It was about respecting who they are.”
Walker described the experience as both spiritual and eye-opening.
“It reminded me of how little it actually takes to survive and enjoy life,” she said. “They seemed content with very little, and it made me reflect on how much we take for granted.”
She also noted the presence of Aloka during volunteer interactions.
“The dog was just so calm,” Walker said. “He would let you pet him, and there were veterinarians there volunteering as well.”
Walker emphasized that the monks’ message remained focused solely on peace.
“At no point did I see or hear anything about conversion,” she said. “What they are looking for is peace.”
Briar Alsbrook, marketing director at The Manning Times, attended the event with a friend and her friend’s daughter, calling the experience “a day in history.”
“I just knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Alsbrook said.
She said she was surprised by how respectful the massive crowd remained as the monks passed.
“I honestly thought it might be chaotic, but it wasn’t,” she said. “People didn’t rush them or touch them. There were people crying, bowing, but it was peaceful.”
Alsbrook said the emotions of the moment took her by surprise.
“At first I was anxious because of the crowds,” she said. “But when they walked by, I was just in shock that we were there for that moment.”
Though excited to see Aloka, Alsbrook admitted she almost missed the dog.
“I was so focused on the monks’ faces and the crowd that I didn’t even look down,” she said. “Someone asked me afterward if I saw the dog, and I realized I hadn’t.”
The moment that stayed with her most, she said, was what happened after the monks passed.
“Everyone just followed in behind them and walked together,” Alsbrook said. “In a crowd like that, you expect problems, but none of that happened. It went so smoothly.”
Afterward, Alsbrook said she talked with her friend and the child about what they had witnessed.
“I told her, ‘This is something you’ll tell people about one day,’” Alsbrook said. “That you were there when it happened.”
