Vigils in February 2013

[Brian]

Thanks to Roberta for posting from Iceland in another thread. We missed her on the corner for this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, which occupied all three grass patches for 90 minutes. Both the weather and the goodwill from passersby were beautiful throughout. Bill, an original vigil member who moved to Glendale, visited with his dogs Nikki and Conni, sorry he missed Roberta (but glad he hadn't come the past few weeks when it was cold and raining). We didn't have Roberta's sign bag, but Sharon, Anni and Mike brought many extras -- Bruce held the Imagining Peace placard. This week's participants, in order of appearance:

• Jim
  
• Frannie
  
• Anni
  
• Brian
  
• Nancy H.
  
• Bruce
  
• Bill B. (and company)
  
• Sharon
  
• Nancy (with Maggie the pooch)
  
• Jeanne
  
• Mike
  

The Department of Defense announced no military deaths from combat in the past week, so we were happy and relieved to have nothing to post on the lightpole. Next week, however, we will have a printout of the DOD's just issued report, "Army Relases (sic) December 2012 and Calendar Year 2012 Suicide Information." The Pentagon probably will have corrected the spelling by then.

When she returns, I hope Roberta will post the news of her generous commitment to advertising our Montrose/Glendale Peace Vigil in Montrose Shopping Park.

[Jeanne]

Was I there?

[Roberta]

Totally forgot to make a plan for the sign bag, so sorry!

More bright lights in the sky up here -- we got tickets for tonight's wiind ensemble concert, mainly to experience the concert hall called Harpa.

en.harpa.is/media/english/Harpa-20082011_Nic-Lehoux.jpg

[Brian]

The rain fell at the beginning of this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, I was told. I didn't make it to the corner until 6:15, but my feet were cold and numb by 7 p.m. (I still need to learn how to dress for winter.) At least it wasn't windy. Nine stalwarts participated this week, at times occupying all three patches of grass while facing very light traffic both on the streets and on the sidewalks.

All of our hearts go out to Jeanne, who could not be with us for this vigil.

For the second week in a row, the Pentagon had no announcements of combat deaths on its News Releases page. Instead, we posted the overdue Army suicide report for December, which was issued with the annual data -- 182 potential suicides in 2012, compared to 165 now confirmed suicides in 2011. Only the Army branch reports suicides, and it just counts active-duty personnel:

Attachments:

[Brian]

The weather was wonderful and so were the passersby for this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, which marked the tenth anniversary of the massive marches around the world on February 15, 2003 against the impending U.S. invasion of Iraq. Traffic was pretty good too, as was our attendance:

• Feb. 1 - 11
  
• Feb. 8 - 9
  
• Feb. 15 - 12
  

Jan 5, 2013 0:00:09 GMT -8 Brian said:

Every Friday on the corner since September 2011, we have posted a printout compiling the Defense Department's announcements of military deaths. We keep hoping for a week when there are none.

As the lead story in Friday's Los Angeles Times points out, there have been no American combat deaths in Afghanistan reported since January 20. This is the third week in a row that we have posted no Pentagon obituaries on the corner, and the fourth week out of the last six.

Yet the war continues. A young man strolling toward Mike and me from the crosswalk stopped to talk to us because he liked my sign, "War Is Over if You Want It." David really wanted it -- he was being redeployed to Afghanistan next week. He noticed Mike's clipboard and said he'd like to sign a petition against the war.

[Brian]

This Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil was dedicated to Bradley Manning on the eve of his 1000th day in custody without a trial. We mounted a display to honor his sacrifice in service to our nation, and we raised money to forward for his defense. Joining us on the corner were Mimi, who learned about this vigil on the Bradley Manning Support Network's website, and Walter, driving from Santa Monica. Matt, who attended our Bradley Manning picnic in the autumn of 2011, was back. As was Rafi, a longtime activist and this message board's newest member. We had our highest attendance since October 5:

• Feb. 1 - 11
  
• Feb. 8 - 9 (rain)
  
• Feb. 15 - 12
  
• Feb. 22 - 15
  

Montrose Peace Vigil averaged 12 participants per week in February -- the same as January -- compared to 10 in December and 11 in both November and October. In February 2012, we averaged 11 per week.

For the fourth week in a row, the Pentagon announced no deaths from combat in Afghanistan.

In observance of this weekend's Montrose Centennial Celebration, we also held a 12-foot long white banner with black letters stretching along the corner that read, "We (heart symbol) Montrose," with a peace symbol in the middle of the heart. Roberta and Anni collaborated on a beautiful presentation. Look for photos of this week's people and their messages in this thread soon.

[Roberta]

The final tally of contributions at the corner last night to Bradley Manning defense fund ..... ta-da.... $67.00. I will make it a nice round number and donate $100.00 from Montrose Peace Vigil and friends.

Thank you everyone!

Find out more about contributing and how it supports Bradley at:

couragetoresist.org/donate/bradley-manning.html

[anni]

Photos from the Montrose Peace Vigil on February 22 include:

Bradley Manning information board and collection box:



Our beautiful new banner and a bevy of beauties holding it:



And a couple of new folks (L. to R. Walter and Mimi) to lighten all our spirits:

[Sharon W]

Bill's photos from last night on FB: www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10151336651328020.476995.737648019&type=3

[anni]

Here's one of the photos Bill took at last Friday's (Feb. 22) Montrose Peace Vigil: