Vigils in August 2020

[Brian]

Every Friday since January 2006, we've stood for peace, love and understanding from 5:30 to 7 p.m. along the wide northwest corner of Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue in Montrose, CA 91020, near the Vietnam War memorial.  This is our sixth month wearing face coverings and staying at least six feet apart with vastly diminished foot and wheel traffic passing by us.

Ten regulars came to the corner for this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil.  The last half hour, I had a wonderful conversation about war, history and our lives with a pedestrian named Marcus -- just like the old days, except both of us spoke through masks.

Since October 2011, we have printed and displayed every Defense Department news release announcing the deaths of soldiers, sailors and airmen in our many ongoing wars. The Pentagon reported no uniformed U.S. casualties in the previous seven days.

[Brian]

The temperature was above 100 degrees during this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, and traffic remained light throughout. The biggest change over the past few weeks is that I'm noticing more pedestrians wearing face coverings, the most concrete sign that people are taking the pandemic seriously as the transmission rate continues to decline in Los Angeles County.

Vigil turnout was the same as last week -- ten regular participants -- but seven of us arrived before 6 p.m. Thanks to Justeen for driving all the way from her air conditioned house in western Van Nuys.

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.

[anni]

Here we see the early birds, minus Brian, the photographer:

[Brian]

Despite the humidity, the weather improved overall for this week's Montrose Peace Vigil.  The temperature, though still hot, was ten degrees lower than last week, and clouds kept the sun from beating on us in the first half of the vigil.  Passersby were positive -- lots of waves, thumbs up, peace signs, shout outs and honks from the vehicles, and this time I stood next to the crosswalk, where I received brief expressions of support and solidarity from pedestrians.  Instead of my usual "War Is Over If You Want It" sign, I've been displaying my "Vote Like Your Life Depends On It" sign from 2016.

Eight oldtimers came the corner this week.

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

[Brian]

Traffic increased substantially at this week's Montrose Peace Vigil, perhaps because of the mild temperature and lower humidity.  With the end of August, the sun dips below the Verdugo Hills before we leave at 7 p.m.

Vigil turnout was also better than usual.  We were joined this week by some familiar faces from the past, beneath their masks.  Vicki was back for the first time since the Bush Administration.  Roberta had run into her at the protest at the Montrose post office last Saturday -- Vicki wasn't aware that we were still there every Friday.  And Vanessa, who knows longtime regulars Sharon and Bill, returned to the corner with her husband Gabe for the first time in a year.  Before the pandemic, she had been stuck at work in West Hollywood on Fridays, unable to get to the vigil on time.

Here are my tallies of the participants at each week's vigil:

• Aug. 7 - 10
• Aug. 14 - 10
• Aug. 21 - 8
• Aug. 28 - 14

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

For the fifth week in a row, the Pentagon reported no U.S. military deaths.