Vigils in June 2013

[Brian]

Everybody is welcome to join Montrose Peace Vigil any Friday between 5:30 and 7 p.m. at the corner of Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue in Montrose, California. We had no spontaneous participants this Friday, and nobody new despite this vigil having been well publicized by the Bradley Manning Support Network as one of the worldwide events during its week of solidarity actions at the beginning of his trial. Still, 11 peaceniks demonstrated -- a good turnout.

I would like to salute the stalwarts who stand for the entire 90 minutes almost every week: Anni, Roberta and Jim. This Friday, Jim brought his wonderful teenage nephew Warren, visiting from Indiana. And our old friend Mark, who we last saw when he helped us march the Peace Train in the Montrose Christmas Parade, showed up at 7:02. I can't count him as a participant this week, but Mark will return.

Every week since October 2011, we have posted compilations of the Defense Department's news releases of the deaths of military personnel in Afghanistan during our vigils. In the past seven days, eight more deaths were reported. You can register on this message board and log in to download a PDF of our post:

Attachments:

[Brian]

For the first time in 12 years, the House of Representatives voted to end the war in Afghanistan on Thursday, overwhelmingly. Then the Obama Administration announced its intention to essentially declare war on the Syrian government. We had a lot to talk about on the corner at this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, and more reason to be there. Eleven peaceniks showed up.

The Defense Department reported three deaths in Afghanistan this past week. Logged in members can download the PDF attachment of these two pages that we posted throughout the vigil:

Attachments:

[Brian]

First, a note about next week's vigil: Mike and Elaine are hosting their third annual get together afterwards at their house. Thanks to both of them for offering another opportunity for us to eat, drink -- and sit down.

This Friday, Montrose Peace Vigil had its best turnout since September 9, 2011 -- 20 participants. Besides the regulars, four enthusiastic middle school age boys asked for signs and stayed to implore drivers to honk for peace. Independently, a girl their age named Naomi stopped to ask if it was O.K. if she joined us. She said her parents and grandparents had all been all war protesters. Sure enough, her delightful mother Celia arrived for the last half hour. And Mark was back, as promised at the top of this page.

Attached below is the PDF that we posted of the deaths announced by the Defense Department this week.

Attachments:

[Guest Paige 3]

Hi Brian and all -

Thank you for coming on Sunday! The Montrose Peace Vigil has been such an important part of my time in the Crescenta Valley. When I write my alleged book, I will remember the potential of unconventional partnerships, and the way that this little group of people genuinely changed the conversation of a whole community. I mean, really - it is an amazing evolution.

Mike sent me an invitation to the BBQ. I shall be delighted to spend my last Friday at the vigil and then dinner. Thank you for including me.
Peace and love - always,
Paige

[Brian]

How fantastic that we will get to hang out with Paige one more time before she moves to Orange County -- on the corner for tonight's Montrose Peace Vigil and at Mike and Elaine's party afterwards! I'll write a report tomorrow of what should be a joyous evening, even knowing how much all of us will miss Paige.

To keep my spirits up later, I'm posting the death announcements now. For almost two years, it has been my solemn duty to print every week's collection of the Defense Department's news releases, and Anni always tapes them on the light pole at 5:30. Here is an advance look in PDF format of our printout about the two U.S. soldiers who will be recognized throughout this Friday's vigil:

Attachments:

[Brian]

Roberta and Jim were already on the corner when Anni and I joined them at 5:40. Soon Naomi, age 11, and her mom Celia who we met last week arrived. When you add all of the stalwarts who participated in this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil to the two old activists meeting for dinner and the two teenage boys curious about Bradley Manning who stopped to hold signs, we had another great week:

• June 7 - 11
  
• June 14 - 11
  
• June 21 - 20
  
• June 28 - 17
  

This June, Montrose Peace Vigil had its best turnout since October 2010. Rounding to the nearest whole peacenik, the vigils averaged 15 participants per week this month, compared to 11 in May, 13 in April and 12 in March, February and January this year. In June 2012, the corner averaged 11 demonstrators per vigil.

Many thanks to Mike and Elaine for hosting us at their beautiful home after the vigil.