Vigils in March 2023

[Brian]

Montrose Peace Vigil takes place 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 skipped a vigil since January 2006. Please stop by sometime if you can.

For the first time since I retired three years ago, I missed the start of this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil because of a long running phone repair at home, so Anni wrote down the names of the regular sign holders who came to the corner.  Roberta was already there when she arrived at 5:30, followed by Dennis, Jeanne, Jim, Janice, Bruce, Nancy, Russell, Mike and Mary.  This week's total became 12 participants when I got there at 6:45, a solid turnout that covered two of the three dirt patches along the unusually wide corner.  It was still a lively scene at that hour, with many pedestrians in groups and hardly any parking spaces available.

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.  About 2,500 troops remain in Iraq.  The Pentagon reported no uniformed U.S. casualties in the previous seven days.

[Brian]

With the official sunset at 5:57 p.m. during this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil -- the last vigil before Daylight Saving Time -- I would have expected to enjoy some kind of sunlight for at least half of our stay.  That's how it went for 17 years.  But storm clouds darkened the sky while dropping light showers for the first half hour.  Unlike the constant wind-driven deluge that five regulars braved two weeks ago, forcing us to take refuge under the coffee shop's awning across the street, we were comfortable in our usual spot after the rain let up.  And we were visible to the folks passing in vehicles because of our umbrellas and large white waterproof signs, earning more than our usual share of honks and waves.

Ten regulars came to the corner.  In order of appearance:  Roberta, Anni, me, Dennis, Jeanne, Nancy, Jim, Bruce, Russell and Mary, many of us hanging around past 7 to talk.

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]

I personally loathe Daylight Saving Time, yet I look forward to it every March for just one reason. After four months of demonstrating in the dark, all passersby were able to read our signs throughout this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil.  Although road traffic was below average, we had plenty of company on the corner with more pedestrians than usual out in the warmest temperature we've experienced in weeks, 67 degrees at the start of the vigil, only three degrees below the date's average high.

Vigil turnout was also below average.  Nine regulars came to the corner -- in order of appearance:  Anni, me, Roberta, Frannie, Dennis, Bruce, Nancy, Mike and Jim.

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

[Jeanne]

Just in from the second day of picketing. UTLA is working with SEIU to get some respect from LAUSD.

I had my eyes out for Cynthia. I last saw her four years ago at a local district rally for that strike. There were thousands of us at the North District headquarters on Balboa in Van Nuys.That didn't keep these March birthday twins from finding each other. We had a good catch up. She sends her love to everyone on the Peace Corner.

[Brian]

No parking spaces were available on the street so I knew we'd have plenty of company at this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil.  I had a wonderful conversation with two women who approached me while I was holding Mary's big, beautiful "Imagine World Peace" sign.  They were asking how they could get more people interested in peace because war and violence seems to be getting worse.  Drawing upon 17 years of advertising for peace, I said the first thing to do is talk about peace wherever we can and try to raise awareness so more people will take action together and individually.  Public opinion turned against the war in 2006, then street protests increased, and that resulted in a deal by President Bush with Iraq that obligated President Obama to withdraw U.S. troops in 2011.  I also told them that I would concentrate on the young people they know -- some Gen Z kids weren't alive when the last war started but they can prevent the next one.

The vigil had its best turnout since the Friday before the November election. Fourteen regulars came to the corner: Roberta, Anni, me, Jeanne, Dennis, Nancy, Janice, Terry, Bruce, Justeen, John B., Jim, Mike and Frannie, in order of appearance.  John the Realtor honked and waved as he drove westbound on Honolulu but I can't count him this week.

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

[anni]

At last night's vigil, Justeen told us about a 16-second video that she just reposted on her You Tube channel. She captured us watching the International Space Station reflecting the sun over the horizon and streaking across the sky faster than a jet at a Montrose Peace Vigil last month:

[Brian]

Over the years, I've remarked about the extra honks and waves we've received on the corner after big events in the news. The indictment of the former president before this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil was no exception, despite the light foot and wheel traffic under an overcast sky.

A solid contingent of regulars stood for peace and justice from the beginning past the end of the vigil. In order of appearance: Roberta, Anni, me, Dennis, Janice, Mary, John the Realtor, Jeanne, Frannie, Nancy, Mary and Jim. My census for the month:

• Mar. 3 - 12
• Mar. 10 - 10
• Mar. 17 - 9
• Mar. 24 - 14
• Mar. 31 - 12

This month's weekly average rounds up to 12 participants, after averaging 10 in February, 12 in January, 11 in December and November, 12 in October, 9 in September, 10 in August, 11 in July, 10 in June, 11 in May, 8 in April and 10 in March 2022.

For the 14th week in a row, no U.S. operational casualties were reported by the Pentagon.