Vigils in June 2023

[Brian]

Every newly planted patch of grass in Montrose Shopping Park still has Please Stay Off the Grass and pick-up-your-dog-poop signs stuck in them, so we stood on the sidewalk during this week's Montrose Peace Vigil for the fourth week in a row.  Most participants lined up at the edge of the grass on the center patch facing traffic with our signs, trying to stay out of the way of pedestrians, while others just appreciated the many blooming bunches of flowers that Bruce planted next to the Vietnam War memorial on Wednesday after presenting them in earthen pots at the Memorial Day ceremony on behalf of Montrose Peace Vigil.  It's gratifying to hear that Bruce received a warm thank you note from one of the event's organizers.

A dozen regulars came to the corner, matching the weekly average turnout in May.  In order of appearance:  Roberta, Anni, me, Dennis, Russell, Janice, Nancy, Frannie, Bruce, Jeanne, Mary and John the Realtor, who tried to get there earlier but had trouble finding a parking space.

As a reminder, we stand on the northwest corner of Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue 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.

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 and 900 in Syria. The Pentagon reported no uniformed U.S. casualties in the previous seven days.

[Brian]

After waiting so long, I expected to feel some relief when the federal indictment came down.  Instead I just feel sad and a little scared about such an abuse of power and its unknown or yet to be known consequences.  The mood was subdued at this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil as well.  It's been a long time since someone held a Lock Up Trump sign on the corner -- we're recognized as a peace group by almost everybody these days.  A man with a pizza waiting at the crosswalk asked me if we heard from people who opposed our message and he wound up staying for another Don't Walk cycle.  Actually, we don't.  Some folks feel the need to say that they don't believe that war will ever be over, it's human nature, but that often leads to other nice conversations with passersby.

I don't want to trap myself into counting the weeks that the Please Stay Off the Grass signs persist while we fully comply.  Still, I have to note that either the signs are not working or the city isn't watering everywhere adequately.  The grass has already turned brown in spots near one crosswalk on our corner and somebody inexplicably left a large bootprint of dead grass near another.

Three of our greatest stalwarts were elsewhere this week, yet 12 regulars made it.  In order of appearance:  Anni, me, Russell, Nancy, Dennis, Frannie, Janice, Roberta, Mike, Justeen, John the Realtor and Mary.

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]

We were greeted by a jazz trio -- standup bass, electric drums with cymbals and hollow body electric guitar -- at this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, playing tunes from writers such as Erroll Garner, Charlie Parker and Henry Mancini next to the concrete bench on the corner.  Despite the temperature in the 70's and rare sunlight this month, foot and wheel traffic was light yet the musicians drew an appreciative crowd.  They weren't just excellent players -- they were wonderful companions throughout the vigil.

Anni and I stood by ourselves for the first half hour until Nancy came at 6, followed by Jeanne, Jim, Dennis, Bruce, Mike and Frannie for a total of nine participants.

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

[Brian]

Sometime before this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, the Please Stay Off the Grass signs were removed throughout the shopping park so we returned to the center patch on the corner for the first time since May 5 when it was just dirt.  This was a good week to get off the sidewalks, keeping them clear for the many groups of pedestrians passing by.  More people than usual stopped to talk, including two young men who wanted to make sure we knew about the war in Artsakh and a gentleman eager to discuss U.S. military policy and other topics.

A dozen peaceniks came this week:  Anni, me, Roberta, Frannie, Jeanne, Dennis, Mike, John, Justeen, Mary, Zari and Nancy, in order of appearance.

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

[anni]

This Friday's vigil will be decidedly warmer. I, for one, will be sad to see the cool weather vanish, while appreciating that it has lasted this long. Welcoming the second half of 2023, and (hopefully) more Peace and Love abounding.

[Brian]

Just as Anni said, summer finally arrived at this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil with 90 degrees at the start.  Perhaps it was the weather, or maybe because many people were beginning a de facto long holiday weekend, but we got more than our usual share of honks and waves, especially from SUV's filled with teenagers flashing peace signs and whooping it up.

Participating this week, in order of appearance:  Anni, me, Dennis, Roberta, Jim, Russell, Nancy, Bruce, Justeen, Andy, Mary and John Q.  Afterwards, all but two of us went to Mike and Elaine's beautiful patio at the edge of the mountains for their first traditional summer post-Montrose Peace Vigil picnic since the pandemic.  How I've missed those gatherings -- and Mike's best in the world bratwursts.  Now the weekly vigil attendance tallies:

• June 2 - 12
• June 9 - 12
• June 16 - 9
• June 23 - 12
• June 30 - 12

This month's weekly average rounds down to 11 participants, after averaging 12 in May, 13 in April, 12 in March, 10 in February, 12 in January, 11 in December and November, 12 in October, 9 in September, 10 in August, 11 in July and 10 in June 2022.

For the fifth week in a row, no U.S. casualties in operations were reported by the Pentagon.

[anni]

A passerby volunteered to take this photo capturing all of the peaceniks on the corner at the end of last Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil.