Vigils in December 2022

[Brian]

Mike engineered the framework that put the Peace Train on wheels in the 2013 Montrose Christmas Parade.

The long range forecasts of rain fizzled out before this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil -- and no precipitation is expected tonight, December 3, when we march with our Peace Train in the Montrose Christmas Parade.  If you're reading this beforehand, please join us.  The page linked below explains where and when we're gathering before the parade.  Afterwards, we'll post a recap and some photos in that thread.

montrosepeacevigil.proboards.com/thread/1379/peace-train-montrose-christmas-parade

Ten regulars came to the corner this week.  Jeanne arrived half a hour early and sent out a video as proof.  Then Russell, Mike, Roberta and Jim got there before 5:30 after they finished assembling the Peace Train at Roberta's house.  They were followed by Anni, me, Janice, Bruce and Nancy, in order of appearance.

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

[Brian]

It was cold and traffic was light at this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil but we kept warm talking about our varied experiences surrounding the Peace Train while marching in the Montrose Christmas Parade.  The consensus was that it was the most joyful march of the 11 parades we've entered with the best weather and the most enthusiastic spectators, perhaps the biggest crowd we've seen.

As a reminder, we stand on the northwest corner of Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue near the Vietnam War memorial in Montrose, CA 91020 every Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. without regard to the weather or holidays -- we haven't missed a vigil since January 2006.  Please stop by sometime if you can.

The same number of participants turned out as last week but the cast of regulars was a little different -- in order of appearance:  Anni, me, Roberta, Dennis, Jeanne, Mary, Russell, Janice, Jim and Nancy.

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

[Brian]

Two weeks after the Montrose Christmas Parade we were still talking about it at this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, prompted by the four videos of the Peace Train embedded here. The city posted the official video on You Tube much sooner than in past years, but the amateur videos that preceded it provide many other wonderful views of the train and its fellow travelers.

Some regulars had to be absent for various reasons, so only nine peaceniks made it to the corner: Anni, me, Roberta, Dennis, Russell, Frannie, Bruce, Mike and Nancy, in order of appearance.  We stayed talking past 7:15.

The Department of Defense reported no uniformed casualties in the previous seven days.

[Brian]

Most of the parking slots along Ocean View Boulevard were empty before this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, which I took as an omen of barren streets and sidewalks for the next 90 minutes.  Last year, Christmas Eve was on a Friday and the six stalwarts who showed up often outnumbered any other people in sight.  But that was at the height of the Omicron surge on a cold evening when rain was possible.  On December 23, 2022, pedestrian traffic was brisk with temperatures in the mid 60's -- many strolling in groups -- and although vehicle traffic was holiday-weekend light, we got more honks and waves per capita than usual.

Eleven peaceniks came to the corner this week.  In order of appearance:  Anni, me, Roberta, John the Realtor, Nancy, Frannie, Dennis, Yoshio, Mike, Elaine and Jim.

We also stood in honor of the passing of an American service member for the first time since February. We taped a large-type printout of Thursday's Defense Department news release, which is linked below, on the utility pole not far from the Vietnam War memorial. The Pentagon's public information office would provide no additional details about the Marine's death in "a non-combat related incident" in Iraq to his hometown media in Tennessee.

www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3254001/dod-identifies-marine-corps-casualty/

A U.S. Marine Corps carry team transfers the remains of Marine Staff Sgt. Samuel D. Lecce on Friday.

Thanks to Yoshio bringing a printout of an article in Marine Corps Times, linked below, reporting another non-combat death recently of a Marine from Lodi who was working in U.S. embassy security in the capital of Nigeria. Since he was not part of a Defense Department operation, the Pentagon does not report him as a casualty. However, the story says that the Naval Criminal Investigative Service is investigating his death routinely.

www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2022/12/22/death-of-nigeria-based-marine-embassy-guard-under-investigation/

[Brian]

Foot and wheel traffic was much lighter than last week at this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil.  With every business on Ocean View Boulevard closed on the evening before New Year's Eve, every parking spot was available.  The temperature was much colder and the groups of strollers were smaller and less frequent than the eve of Christmas Eve, yet some people were there just for frozen yogurt.

The regulars who made it to the corner this week, in order of appearance: Anni, me, Roberta, Janice, Justeen, Jeanne, Dennis, Bruce, Nancy, Frannie, Russell, Jim and Mary. My tallies of the weekly participants each week:

• Dec. 2 - 10
• Dec. 9 - 10
• Dec. 16 - 9
• Dec. 23 - 11
• Dec. 30 - 13

This month's weekly average rounds up to 11 participants, the same as November's, after averaging 12 in October, 9 in September, 10 in August, 11 in July, 10 in June, 11 in May, 8 in April, 10 in March, 9 in February, 10 in January and 9 in December 2021.

No U.S. military deaths were reported in the previous seven days.