‘Liberty Torch’ Troupe Back After a Long Run
The Liberty Torch, a group combining religion and running, ended their 8,800-mile cross-country trek yesterday at Federal Memorial Hall at 26 Wall Street.
The members of the group — 31 men averaging 27 years of age — are followers of Sri Chinmoy, director of the United Nations Meditation group — carried, a lighted silver torch through all 50 states to symbolize their faith in America. They left New York on June 26.
“Look at them coming down the street, aren’t they wonderful?” said a deeply tanned Mayor Beame, who proclaimed yesterday “Liberty Torch Day.
About 200 spectators, half of them disciples of Sri Chinmoy, gathered outside the national shrine to greet the runners, who were escorted by the police.
“I can’t begin to tell you how touched we all are seeing this sort of reception,” David I. Gershon, 29 years old, the team captain, told the crowd after placing the torch in a red-white-and-blue stand in front of the statue of George Washington.
The runners, according to Mr. Gershon, took time off from their jobs and invested $1,000 each toward the purchase of the two mobile homes and the torch that was used. Mr. Gershon, a New York City elementary-school teacher, led the runners through cities and towns ranging from Boston to Slapout, Okla.(population: nine).
“That’s where we had one of the nicest turnouts,” said Sam W. Mills, 24, from Norwalk, Conn. “Not only did the entire town come out to see us, but ·there were about 250 people from other towns who made us a big reception.”
The runners did on the average 10 miles a day and slept for five hours in one of two mobile homes that was driven by a teammate.
“We also meditated twice a day, once at noon and at 6 P.M.,” Mr. Mills said. “This kept everyone in harmony.”As for the future of the Liberty Torch, they plan to continue running and meditating together and entering marathon tournaments.
“We even feel we can run around the world for peace,” Mr. Mills said as a band played “America the Beautiful” in the background.
Published in The New York Times, August 17, 1976