Vigils in August 2023

[Brian]

The temperature was only 85 degrees at the beginning of this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil.

Three of our vigil's most frequent regulars were out of town and at least two others have decided to stay home until the end of the summer, so just seven stalwarts came to the corner, our lowest turnout since February 24 when it rained throughout the vigil.  In order of appearance:  Anni, me, Dennis, Russell, Nancy, Frannie and Bruce.  Attendance averaged 11 peaceniks a week in June and July.

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.

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 with countless more troops operating in Africa.  The Pentagon reported no uniformed U.S. casualties in the previous seven days.

[Brian]

As often happens, I had wonderful conversations with passersby at this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil.  The first one started when Cal, who'd seen us on the corner many times, decided to park and talk.  Cal started by recounting about how disillusioned he became with politics in 2016 when hacked Democratic National Committee e-mails revealed how Hillary Clinton had worked behind the scenes to subvert Bernie Sanders' campaign, but soon he, Bruce and I were discussing more philosophical issues like the role of faith in politics and what constitutes individual liberty in a democracy.  At the end of the vigil, two gentlemen approached to ask about my sign:  What possible good could come from imagining world peace?  The conversation turned to the wars that we always live with, ending with a memory one of the guys, age 62, had of a relative who returned from Vietnam and didn't want to talk about his service.  He had been a child who believed that wars were glorious, but he came to understand the lasting trauma they inflict on everyone involved.

The temperature was 82 degrees, with better foot and wheel traffic than previous weeks.  Vacations continue to trim our turnout.  Eight regulars came to the corner:  Jeanne, Anni, me, Bruce, Frannie, Mary, Elaine and Mike, in order of appearance.

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]

Traffic was light during this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, although we seemed to get more honks, waves and peace signs per capita than usual from passing vehicles.  I don't think the weather can be blamed for the sight of fewer pedestrians on the corner compared to last week -- it was 92 degrees, cooler than all four preceding weekdays.

Eight stalwarts participated -- in order of appearance:  Anni, me, Russell, Nancy, Jeanne, Dennis, Mary and Frannie.

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

[Brian]

Untypically, Anni and I found no parking spaces on Ocean View Boulevard before this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, nor on Honolulu Avenue of course.  When we have to park in a lot, we know to expect more people walking by and hanging out on the corner.  And sure enough, we were greeted by young families, groups of teenagers, other assorted frozen yogurt eaters and many passersby.

Two of our greatest stalwarts going back two decades now -- Roberta and Jim -- were back from their vacations.  They helped to boost the average turnout for August at the end of the month.  Arriving in order of appearance:  Jeanne, Roberta, Anni, me, Dennis, Jim, Russell, Mike, Bruce, Mary, Nancy and Frannie.  My weekly headcount:

• Aug. 4 - 7
• Aug. 11 - 8
• Aug. 18 - 8
• Aug. 25 - 12

This month's weekly average rounds up to 9 participants, after averaging 11 in July and June, 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 and 10 in August 2022.

For the 13th week in a row, no U.S. casualties in operations were reported by the Pentagon.

[anni]

Our gang on the last Friday in August, 2023.