July 2012 vigils

[Brian]

Jim and Anni take down Montrose Peace Vigil's replacement flag and pole after our June 29 vigil.

This Wednesday, July 4, we're having a special Montrose Peace Vigil for the Independence Day holiday at a special time, 4 to 5:30 p.m., at the same place we've gathered every Friday for six and a half years, the Vietnam War memorial on the corner of Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue in Montrose, California.

Since the shopping park association only removes its flag during our regular vigils, we won't need the portable, telescoping flagpole that we strap onto theirs every week, with our flag at half staff, to honor the troops who die in Afghanistan. We want all of the living to come home, long before the next Fourth of July.

[Roberta]

Here is a snippet Jeanne sent me as a preview of her well-chosen words to the local Unitarian congregation yesterday. I hope it is ok with her that I post them here. In fact maybe she will post her entire talk.

"On Wednesday, July 4th, from 4-5:30 pm, we are going to gather at the corner for a special holiday vigil. We will abandon our BBQ's and desert our desserts to remind each other of the radical risks that were taken to create this vast community that we call a nation. We may even inspire each other with ideas for future actions that will move us towards shaping our country into a responsive, responsible member of the Beloved Community. I heartily invite you to join us. I hope to see you there."

[Jeanne]

Jul 2, 2012 11:49:59 GMT -8 Roberta said:

Here is a snippet Jeanne sent me as a preview of her well-chosen words to the local Unitarian congregation yesterday. I hope it is ok with her that I post them here. In fact maybe she will post her entire talk "

I rarely can resist a dare from Roberta. I will attach the message here. it's long, but it's about us! And me. It was great to have Roberta and anni there as credentialed cheerleaders. And it looks like Roberta might be speaking to them about the death penalty before the November election. Progress happens.

Attachments:

[anni]

Bravo, dear Jeanne. Such a treat to be able to read carefully, linger over your finely turned phrases. Your talk had the perfect tone for the fine folk in attendance and all of us wanting to lend a hand creating Peace on Earth. Thank you.

[Jeanne]

Thanks, anni. It was great to have your enthusiastic energy present.
I wonder if we'll see any new faces at the curve ball today.

And thank you, Brian, for the plug on the bowl workshop this Sunday. I think the soup tastes even better if you have a hand in the making of the bowls.

Happy 4th of July.

To quote the man who quoted Edward Abbey on Sunday, "Patriots are people who defend their country from the government."

[Brian]

Despite the fabulous weather this Fourth of July, traffic was sparse on the sidewalks and roads for our extra edition of the Montrose Peace Vigil, which we call Curveball. Yet 11 people took part, including a passerby who held a sign at the crosswalk while waiting for the light to change. We all want change. Perhaps because of the holiday, the goodwill from those driving by was more effusive than Friday evenings on the corner. Also, there's a lot more shade at our main spot at 4 p.m. than at our usual time, 5:30 to 7.

Welcome to the newest member of the Montrose Peace Vigil message board, mercedes2, who is Mary Ann, the newest repeat vigil participant. And thanks to Nancy for introducing Mary Ann to us!

[Roberta]

The paean to flag-replacing in the Glendale News Press

articles.glendalenewspress.com/2012-07-02/news/tn-818-0702-la-crescenta-church-replaces-stolen-diversity-flags_1_flag-thefts-american-flag-replacement-flags

has now been joined by another taking up all the above-the-fold real estate in this week's print CV Weekly. I can find only this video on their website

www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/news/07/03/2012/st-lukes-receives-new-flags/

I think I'll need a sarcasm-ectomy in order to write a non-snarky letter that points out the contradictions between the way this situation unfolded and the one involving another flag in Montrose.

All non-snarky suggestions welcome!

[anni]

The Constant Vigilars
by Anni Siegel (not shown)

[Brian]

Anni's photo above captures almost all of the 11 participants at our special Fourth of July vigil. This Friday's regular Montrose Peace Vigil drew only seven of our greatest stalwarts.

Even with the mild weather, the sun blasts the opposite corner, which might explain why the counter protesters were absent. All of the honks were for us. Road traffic was lighter than the usual Friday evening yet many strolled the sidewalks. Several carloads of people waved and flashed peace signs along with two bus drivers and a truck full of firefighters during the hour I was there.

As posted on our flagpole, here are this week's Department of Defense announcements of military deaths:

Attachments:

[Brian]

Boy, I have comments for two other threads -- Roberta's great letter to Rep. Adam Schiff and the Bradley Manning protest downtown this weekend -- but tonight I'll just report on this week's Montrose Peace Vigil.

We've been corresponding with Mike Lawler and Robert Newcombe, who are putting together a book for the 100th anniversary of Montrose, perhaps because we've been on the corner every Friday since January 2006. Robert came to shoot some photos and ask questions. He really wants pictures from our early days, so I'm going to contact a professional photographer who was a regular back then, when we had an average of 20 participants each week, most with signs saying impeach Bush and get out of Iraq.

Given the horrible news out of Afghanistan, it was heartening to see a young couple with two amazing daughters step up to hold signs and wave at the cars. Our attendance so far this month:

• July 4 - 11 (special vigil)
  
• July 6 - 7
  
• July 13 - 11
  

Each week, we post the Department of Defense's press releases announcing military deaths at www.defense.gov/releases on our own flagpole. Our flag was at half staff for 11 men:

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