Cross-country walker touts faith, patriotism

America is a great nation.
That is the message that one California resident, Allie Stevens a.k.a. Rick Shaw, wants to project on his coast-to-coast, cross-country walk.
“I want to share with the world that the people of this country are great,” Stevens said during his stopover last Friday in Gonzales. “I want to turn the negatives into positives. I want to show the greatness of this country.”
Stevens especially wants younger ones to hear his message.
“I want to get the kids to see their future in this great country,” he said. “I tell them to be positive about the future no matter what the government does.”
Stevens left his hometown of Oceanside, Calif. in September of 2009 and will take his leisurely stroll across the country until he arrives in Miami.
All of Stevens’ finances are taken care of through donations.
“When I left Oceanside, I all I had was just 10 cents,” he said.
Another concept he said he wants to promote is faith in God.
“My other quest is to show people how great God is and you have to walk by faith,” Stevens said.
In each community he visits, Stevens gets heavily involved and makes it a point to learn the history of every town he happens to stop in. He also attends parades, festival and concerts, and speaks to school-age children and fellow members of the military.
“I will do anything with the community,” he said. “I take time to get to know the community and people.”
In showing how great the country is and the importance of having faith in God, Stevens also implores people to take action if they are not satisfied.
“A lot of people complain,” he said. “I think they should stop complaining and do something about it. If gas is too expensive, they should walk to the grocery store and save money.”
He noted that he probably could not accomplish this feat in any other country on the planet.
Stevens is well-suited to make the long journey, even carrying a survival bag that weights a few hundred pounds. He has served in the United States Marine Corp, from 1972 until 1979, during which time he fought in the Vietnam War.
Stevens said he will be in the Gonzales area until Feb. 28 and will be staying at the home of local resident, David Sanchez, Jr. at 819 Wells Street.
If you want to make donations, Stevens can be reached by calling 619-592-5161 or you can visit his web site at www.rickshawroadtrip.com.