Vigils in November 2013

[Brian]

Thanks to Roberta for her great report about Halloween on the corner in the October vigils thread.

This Friday marked the last Montrose Peace Vigil to start in daylight for the next five months. By the time it got dark -- and until the end of the vigil at 7 p.m. -- 18 people were holding signs on the corner. Besides 11 of our regulars and the return of Louisa after six weeks in Colorado, we were joined by Ricardo from Argentina, young Terro from Syria and four local teenagers who cheered us with their refreshing enthusiasm, enticing many motorists who otherwise would not have honked for peace to do just that.

Since October 2011, we have displayed all of the Defense Department's news releases announcing troop deaths during our weekly vigils. In the past seven days, no deaths were reported. However, we also post the monthly suicide reports on the light pole, so we had the Army's September suicide data to tape up. If you register on this message board, you will be able to log in and download this PDF of our post:

Attachments:

[Brian]

We missed Jeanne and a few other regulars on the corner for this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil. Total attendance was 11 participants. Filling in beautifully were Norm and Pearl, our old friends from Glendale Peace Vigil, now residents of Pasadena. When they come to a Montrose Peace Vigil every month or two, they take the bus. Both are planning to march with the Peace Train again at the Montrose Christmas Parade next month. For what they bring to every demonstration, we should consider sending a limousine for them.

Attached below is the PDF that we posted of the death announced by the Defense Department this week:

Attachments:

[Brian]

Four high school age girls veered from the crosswalk to step over the curb in front of us on the grass patch we inhabit every Friday for Montrose Peace Vigil, asking for signs to hold. One of them said, "I haven't protested since eighth grade." Soon joined by one smart boy, they brightened the dark corner with their energy for the last half hour of the vigil -- six of the eight streetlights at the intersection have been out, we noticed, since daylight started fleeing our vigil weeks ago. Jim contacted the city from his cellphone to report it while balancing his big American flag. This Friday, we had a total of 17 demonstrators.

I've waited many months to say this again: We had no deaths from the Pentagon to post this week.

Our mutual friend and fellow vigiler Mark is hosting a video shoot at Montrose Bowl on Saturday from 7 p.m. to midnight. If you'd like to attend like Anni and me, you're also on the guest list as Montrose Peace Vigil.

[Roberta]

This just in from Mike F.:

"The official name of the medal Elaine recently won is:

NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal

Here's the wikipedia entry about the award. Normally, the top dogs from NASA would do the medaling, but unfortunately, it happened to be scheduled during the government shutdown.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Exceptional_Achievement_Medal

Elaine's specific citation reads:
"For exceptional achievement in testing and delivering the Terminal Descent Sensor Radar for the Mars Science Laboratory which was critical to a safe landing on Mars."

I'm very proud of her."

And wait til you see The Peace Train 2.0 -- imagine the beautiful panels rolling down the street without your arms aching!

[Brian]

This will be my eighth winter at the Montrose Peace Vigil, and every year I need one cold and windy Friday before I start remembering to bring a good coat to the corner. A few big raindrops fell now and then, but at least I didn't need an umbrella. Not many pedestrians were out, and road traffic was lighter than usual. Still, vigil turnout was good -- 13 stalwarts participated.

The Glendale public works department has yet to repair the streetlights. The trees we stand under have been blocking the light from the stores and the few working streetlamps since daylight savings time ended three weeks ago. So we protest in the shadows hoping that the headlights will reach our signs. It was too windy for candles this week. The shopping park association is getting ready to cover all of the trees with their Christmas lights, so we shall be illuminated next Friday.

Luckily, the pole where we post the weekly Defense Department news releases gets some ambient light. Attached below is this week's printout -- the first page announcing two deaths in Afghanistan, and the second reporting the Army's October suicide data:

Attachments:

[anni]

Here's the only publishable (the other one included more participants but was too fuzzy) pic from last night:

[Roberta]

fyi, I just ran into our friend and Montrose Shopping Park "ambassador" who mentioned that when he went to lower the flag at the corner to half-mast for JFK last week, the wind was whipping it around to the extreme so he took it down til calmer conditions prevailed.

Mystery solved and no conspiracy at all!

[Brian]

Believe it or not, most of the street lights were still out at this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil. Eastbound Honolulu Avenue was blocked from vehicle traffic for the shopping park association's Christmas lighting ceremony. There, hundreds of people were turned away from our corner to enjoy the holiday music and sing along. The snow blowing machines were turned on at 7, then the lights that had been strung on every tree, just as we were leaving. I'm happy to report that the Pentagon announced no deaths in past week. Attendance in November exceeded our previous monthly averages:

• Nov. 1 - 18
  
• Nov. 8 - 11
  
• Nov. 15 - 17
  
• Nov. 22 - 13
  
• Nov. 29 - 11
  

Montrose Peace Vigil averaged 14 participants per week this month, compared to 13 in October and September, 11 in August, 15 in July and June, 11 in May, 13 in April and 12 each in March, February and January this year. In November 2012, the corner averaged 11 demonstrators per vigil. In the Novembers of 2011 and 2010, it was 12. This month, 11 spontaneous participants held signs for the first time.

We invite everybody to march with the Montrose/Glendale Peace Vigil contingent and our Peace Train in the Montrose Christmas Parade next Saturday. This page here on our message board has the details along with photos of the redesigned Peace Train on wheels -- and new posts being added all the time:

montrosepeacevigil.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=320&page=1

[Jeanne]

Another thing happened last night. A man who used to stand on the SE corner came up to Roberta and me and started a conversation about Benghazi. Maybe he was looking for an argument when he said how corrupt and dishonest this administration is, but Roberta immediately diffused that by saying that we are also critical of this administration. He went on to say something about the tragedy of the four lives lost there and we mentioned that there have been many more lost than that. Then he said something about quality not quantity and saw himself heading down a rathole and backed off and said that every life is sacred. Exactly, that's why we're here. Then he found some common ground with me and said we need to pray for peace.

It was a check in as to how things have changed over our years of standing for peace. First, he wasn't on the opposite corner . Second, he initiated a conversation, even though it was baited. Third he heard a few things we said and heard himself and stopped himself from going on about that quality/quantity thought.

He said his son had almost died in Iraq. I wish I had asked more about that. It could have led us down another road. Maybe next time...

[anni]

Wow, Jeanne, from now on I'll be asking myself, "What would Jeanne ask/answer?" Not just dive into some liberal rhetoric constantly running through my noisy mind...or more likely, run away. I only heard part of what the gentleman was saying, more his snide tone (which seems at once silly and not conducive to conversation).

This must be one of those "teachable moments" that I've only heard about.

I'm thankful for you, Jeanne, on this path to Peace. Eager to try this approach next time the opportunity presents...and thank you for sharing the whole story.