Vigils in April 2020

[Brian]

This Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil was the third vigil with social distancing, and the first where most of us wore face masks or coverings.  I'd say half of the few pedestrians who walked by had face masks, but none of the joggers.  I was surprised to see a lot of drivers wearing masks.  Despite the sparse traffic like we've only seen on holidays like Christmas, we got lots of honks and waves.  Spreading out with our signs when so few people are on the sidewalks has made our demonstration more visible from the vehicles, I think.

Ten regulars came to the corner this week including Louisa, who's recovering beautifully from her planned surgery last month.

Since October 2011, we have displayed every Defense Department news release announcing the deaths of soldiers, sailors and airmen in our many unconstitutional wars during the vigils. Anni taped a printout of Wednesday's Pentagon news release, which is linked below, on the utility pole. Stars and Stripes ran this photo of the soldier, who was deployed three times to Afghanistan before being deployed to Iraq last October, where he became the sixth U.S. casualty in that nation this year.

www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2132866/dod-identifies-army-casualty/

Sgt. 1st Class John David Randolph Hilty

[Sharon W]

Yesterday Glendale's Mayor, Ara Najarian announced that all residents must wear a face mask (not the N95 type needed by medical personnel) when off their own property. The indications are the next two weeks will be crucial for slowing down the spread of the virus so the city will be actively enforcing social distancing rules. Thanks to all of those who continue to demonstrate safely. We put the Fire Drill Friday sign in the window again. Jane Fonda has announced 2 pm Friday Eastern time to demonstrates so I'll put it out earlier next Friday.

[Brian]

Week by week, traffic keeps diminishing at the intersection of Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue.  There were times throughout this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil when there were no vehicles in sight in any direction.  It rained a little in the first half hour, so the pedestrians didn't come out until 6 p.m. -- some with kids and dogs, many of them not wearing face coverings, especially the dogs.

Eight vigil stalwarts spread out on opposite corners this week.

In the previous seven days, the Department of Defense reported no military deaths in Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan, Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria or in any of the many other U.S. operations underway around the world.

[Brian]

Traffic remained sparse during this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, but we got more honks, waves, thumbs up and peace signs from passing vehicles than we used to get during pre-pandemic traffic.  Perhaps some of the good will was directed to Nancy's new sign, PEACE IS ESSENTIAL, in huge black letters on a bright pink background.  Like last week, we spread out on two corners.

Ten stalwarts participated this week:  Jim, Anni, Roberta, Justeen, Nancy, Jeanne, Bruce, Louisa, Frannie and me.

The Pentagon announced no U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria or anywhere else in the previous seven days.

[anni]

Here you can see for yourself:

[Roberta]

Lovely pictures! I know there is a ton of Earth Day stuff online — anything particularly good you’d recommend? I had a fantasy of suggesting a Curve Ball for the occasion, but I also had procrastination and forgetfulness. If there are any last minute urges to be at the corner tomorrow — let me check my schedule ... yep, NADA!

[Brian]

This Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil was the fourth vigil where we wore face coverings and masks, and the sixth with social distancing, usually more than six feet. Thanks to Oss Rae and Nina -- who founded the vigil on Saturdays in Eagle Rock in 2002, which is still ongoing -- for coming to Montrose again.  Nina brought her bearded dragon named Irving, a gorgeous and very mellow guy.  If only we could outfit Irving with a sign and a little mask.

Because of the pandemic, not one passerby has stopped to spontaneously pick up a sign, something that used to happen a lot.  Two of our greatest stalwarts are staying away from the corner for the foreseeable future, and two other regulars have been absent for different reasons.  Nonetheless, our average participation in April is only two peaceniks less per week than our long standing average of a dozen, and only one less than April last year:

• Apr. 3 - 10
• Apr. 10 - 8
• Apr. 17 - 10
• Apr. 24 - 10

This month's weekly average rounds up to 10 participants, after averaging 12 in March, February and January, 13 in December, 12 in November, 13 in October, 12 in September, August and July, 14 in June and May, and 11 in April 2019.

No U.S. casualties were announced by the Pentagon in the previous seven days.

[Sharon W]

Thanks to those who came out. sorry we missed seeing Ross & Nina. We again participated from home, with lighted candles in the window to honor the 1.5 million people lost in the Armenian Genocide, April 24 being the annual commemoration day. Glendale streamed the program on GTV6 this year instead of holding an event in the Alex Theatre as they have for the past several years. The Armenian community in the United States set out to raise funds to provide 1.5 million meals to those in need during this pandemic to honor those lost in the genocide rather than having large gatherings. They raised enough for over 3 million meals. ktla.com/news/local-news/armenian-american-community-donates-over-3-million-meals-to-families-affected-by-covid-19-to-commemorate-105th-anniversary-of-armenian-genocide/

[anni]

Still social distancing, still vigiling in Montrose (with special friends from EagleRock):