Peace Pilgrim Birthday Celebration: July 17, 2022

Smiles, songs, and peaceful steps filled the afternoon when dozens of Friends of Peace Pilgrim came together in her Egg Harbor City, NJ, hometown for a celebration of her birthday. A one-mile Peace Walk was followed by joyful words, music, drumming, and more.

“Peace Pilgrim’s message seems more important today than ever. We are grateful to share in this wonderful community of people who gathered to celebrate her life and wisdom,” said FoPP board member Barbara Reynolds.

Happy Birthday Peace Pilgrim!

The group gathers around the Peace Pilgrim statue for a birthday pose.

Peace Pilgrim Statue

She gets a loving birthday adornment!

One-Mile Peace Walk

FoPP board member Bruce Nichols invited everyone to imagine “planting peace on the earth with each step.”

Peace Meditation

FoPP board member Bruce Nichols leads a beautiful peace meditation.

Peace Is With Us!

Naida Burgess reminds us that Peace is with us every day.

Peace Poem

Dale Young, son of Peace Pilgrim’s sister Helene Young, recites an original poem.

Leading the Sing-Along

Long-time friend of Peace Pilgrim and former Egg Harbor City resident Bob Barnett came all the way from his new home in Canada to lead the circle in joyful songs.

Peaceful Pine Grove

What better place than a circle of pines in her namesake park to gather for her birthday celebration?

Happy Harmony

Mandolin player Tom Brennan accompanies Bob Barnett in the circle of song.

Songbook Selection

Bob Barnett finds crowd favorites in his songbook.

From Strumming to Drumming

Naida Burgess blesses the circle with powerful yogic drumming.

Yogic Vibrations

Moving slowly and with intention, Naida Burgess showers each participant with healing sound.

Grounding in Peace

With each step and each strike Naida Burgess shares the power of peace.

Collection of Peaceful T's

The collection shows t-shirts designed by local high school students for Peace Pilgrim Celebrations that began 14 years ago on what would have been Peace Pilgrim’s 100th birthday.

Wisdom Lives On

Friends of Peace Pilgrim continue to share her wisdom in free books, videos and other media that are distributed to thousands of people a year worldwide.

Peace Garden

This beautiful Peace Garden is part of Peace Pilgrim Park in her hometown of Egg Harbor City, NJ.

Peace Pilgrim (July 18, 1908 – July 7, 1981) walked across the U.S. for 28 years on a personal pilgrimage for peace. She shared her simple but profound wisdom in thousands of communities: “Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.” Her words – captured in books, videos, and other media – continue to inspire people around the world.