Stamford Man Walks, Prays His Way to Ground Zero

STAMFORD, Conn. — Stamford resident Al Forte walked today, same as yesterday, and he’ll do the same thing again tomorrow. He will continue walking every day until he reaches Ground Zero for Sept. 11.

“My sister calls me ‘Forrest Gump,’” Forte said, laughing during a phone interview about his Pray-for- Peace Walks. He got the idea to do the walks while praying at church in March 2008, when he remembered a picture of two Muslim parents standing over their dead children and he wanted to help them. Forte tried to make it a big walk with many people, but no one else wanted to participate. So he decided to amble from Yankee Stadium to Wrigley Field in Chicago.

This year, for the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Forte started his venture in Washington, D.C., at the Pentagon. He stopped at Arlington Cemetery and went to a couple of baseball games along his journey to New York. However, he said the highlight of the walk was his tour of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the wonderful attitude of the soldiers there.

“It made you proud to be an American,” he said of meeting the service members and veterans.

Each walk begins at 7:30 a.m., and he walks all day — taking breaks for lunch, pictures and conversations. Then a friend, who drives along with him, picks him and takes him to a motel to shower and sleep. Sometimes the friend has to force Forte to stop so he doesn’t hurt himself.

“I am not a kid doing this,” the 68-year-old said.

The Stamford man does not keep to himself during these walks, he often speaks to people, sharing his message of praying for peace, and handing out his business cards that also share that message.

What are you doing to commemorate the 10th anniversary of September 11? Share your plans below or email reporter Anthony Buzzeo, tbuzzeo@thedailystamford.com. 

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