ALEXANDRIA, Va. — On a journey spanning 107 days and thousands of miles, a group of two dozen monks arrived in Alexandria and Arlington this week, drawing massive crowds eager to receive a message of peace in a time of national divisiveness.
The monks, whose cross-country trek began in Texas last October, are nearing the conclusion of their mission. Despite brutally freezing temperatures and snow, they have walked through the heart of Virginia, handing out an estimated 100,000 peace bracelets along the way.
For the hundreds who lined Washington Street in Old Town Alexandria, the monks represent a rare moment of unity. Escorted by police and honored with a city proclamation, the group was met by supporters who have followed their progress for months…