Garcia (file)

WASSAIC – Danny Garcia has been walking for children and world peace since 1996. He has walked over 24,000 miles across the world since then and he began his Walk for Peace, which he hopes will take him to the Middle East and China.

Garcia began his walk from the World Peace Sanctuary in Wassaic and expects to be at Ground Zero in Manhattan in three days. All the while, the 63-year-old will be carrying a Peace Pole strapped to his back.

“For me it’s more of an inward challenge than an outward challenge, and just taking once step at a time, taking one step at a time for all those guys who are overseas right now, who have family here. I know what that’s like. This walk is for them and every human being who is alive, and for peace,” he told MidHudsonNews.com.

Since he began his walks some 12 years ago, the former Marine has met with U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa and other prominent people and organizations.

Garcia hopes to reach Beijing, China in time for the Olympic Games in August. His route will include the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Jerusalem, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Taiwan, Japan, South Korean and China.