Vigils in January 2024: Our 18th anniversary

[Brian]

Weekly peace vigils were a common sight in the early years of the U.S. war in Iraq.  Nobody could have known in January 2006 when Roberta took a stand holding a sign by herself at the intersection of Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue in Montrose, California -- Nancy was the first to join her minutes later -- that so many people would keep showing up there to advertise for peace every week since.  This Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil kicked off a month of celebrating our 18th anniversary.

Thirteen peaceniks came to the corner this week, which was our average turnout for the five vigils last month.  In order of arrival:  Anni, me, Zari, Nancy, Frannie, Bruce, Elaine, Mike, Roberta, Jim, Jeanne, Mary Liz and Chip.  Thanks to Jeanne for bringing her wonderful sister and brother in law, who are visiting from Connecticut, on their way back from a stay in Death Valley.

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]

Although it was only a couple degrees colder than last week -- 55 degrees at the start of this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil -- it somehow felt much chillier.  Foot and wheel traffic was very light.  The Christmas tree, its lights and the other holiday decorations were gone, making the intersection seem darker.  Unlike most weeks, nobody stopped to talk with any of us, as far as I noticed.

Still, 13 vigil regulars came this week, which remains our lucky number in the new year.  We comprised a conspicuous contingent of sign holders on the otherwise mostly empty corner getting warm greetings from some passing pedestrians and a lot of honks, waves and peace signs per capita from the vehicles.  In order of appearance:  Anni, me, Roberta, Zari, Russell, Jim, Bruce, Jeanne, Dennis, Nancy, Mary, Frannie and Yoshio.

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.

[Nancy]

At the Vigil last night, around the corner from Brian and most of the other participants, a very nice lady said her two children (older than 6, younger than 12) wanted to ask us why we were here. Some of the other participants and I conveyed that we stand for peace every Friday at 5:30 and gave other information in response to the family's questions - such as giving our history of demonstrating for peace since 2006, mentioning several specific wars for which we want to inspire peaceful resolution, and so on. The family thanked the vigil participants and expressed a desire to join us. We welcomed them anytime, let them know we always had extra signs or they could bring their own, and thanked them for their interest. I know I speak for all vigil participants in extending this invitation to anyone and everyone reading this who wants to join us in spreading the message of peace.

[CK]

Hi - I was holding a ceasefire sign at the corner of honolulu and montrose one sunday at farmers market and met someone from your group. i have been wanting to join your peace vigils to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Is this something you support? Also, do you know where I can find information on rules for using that area of the sidewalk? Are we allowed to have a projector screen up, as long as it doesnt block any walkways/entrances and content is kid-friendly?

[Brian]

Hi, CK, and thanks for posting!  We've been displaying ceasefire signs at every Montrose Peace Vigil for months.

To be certain, you'd have to check with the City of Glendale to see if your set up violates any ordinances, especially if you need to plug into the city's electricity.  Generally, the corner has long been hospitable to all kinds of groups displaying information or raising money with baked goods on card tables, and we'd long enjoyed a variety of buskers and even a jazz combo infrequently over the years, who are required to get an inexpensive city license if they play with electronic amplifiers.  If they don't, a policeman might stop to ask them to unplug and politely direct them to file downtown, something that last happened during pandemic restrictions.  Why not come to the corner some Friday between 5:30 and 7 and scope out your potential audience?  

[Brian]

For the first time since Daylight Saving Time ended, it was still dusk at the beginning of this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, depriving the flickering electronic candles that Anni lines up along the curb their full illumination for a few minutes.  And we had more company on the corner than last week thanks mostly to the groups of teenagers passing by and hanging around the frozen yogurt store.

Eleven regulars participated -- in order of appearance:  Jim, Anni, me, Roberta, Zari, Russell, Frannie, Jeanne, Nancy, Mike and Mary.

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

[Oss Rae]

Jan 16, 2024 0:13:15 GMT -8 CK said:

Hi - I was holding a ceasefire sign at the corner of honolulu and montrose one sunday at farmers market and met someone from your group. i have been wanting to join your peace vigils to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Is this something you support? Also, do you know where I can find information on rules for using that area of the sidewalk? Are we allowed to have a projector screen up, as long as it doesnt block any walkways/entrances and content is kid-friendly?

Over the years I've thought many times that had I passed by any of these vigils as a child, I'd have been very curious about them and that they'd have made a lasting impression on me. I can imagine that being the case with today's kids, too.

[Brian]

With the temperature in the mid-60's during this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, it was a pleasant evening for wide ranging conversations with passersby.  A Persian Armenian gentleman approached Zari and me to ask why we were standing on the corner with signs, getting more interested when he found out that he agreed with us.  Unsure of his English (which was excellent), he and Zari wound up conversing in Farsi for much of the vigil.  Hanging out even longer was Adam, who saw our group walking back from a pedicure and wanted to thank us for demonstrating every week.  Adam has roots in Tujunga and family in Montrose, so he and I bonded over not seeing horned lizards in the wild for the past few decades, which were better known as horny toads when we were kids.  Sadly, they're nearly extinct everywhere including Texas, I've read.

If I had asked them to hold signs, maybe we would have had a dozen participants.  Two of our greatest stalwarts couldn't make it this week, yet ten regulars turned out.  Nancy has to be counted first because she parked several blocks away and marched to the vigil with her two signs, stopping to talk to a few folks -- and she arrived only a couple of minutes after Anni and me.  We were followed in short order by Zari, Jeanne, Russell, Dennis, Mike, Bruce and Frannie.  My weekly census:

• Jan. 5 - 13
• Jan. 12 - 13
• Jan. 19 - 11
• Jan. 26 - 10

This month's weekly average rounds up slightly to 12 participants, after averaging 13 in December, 11 in November and October, 9 in September and August, 11 in July and June, 12 in May, 13 in April, 12 in March, 10 in February and 12 in January 2023.

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

[Brian]

I brought my elderly digital camera to last Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil to mark our 18th anniversary month. When I snapped the group photo above, I left off Anni on the right, so here is a solo shot of her taken at dusk with her display of candles before everybody else arrived on the corner.

[CK]

Jan 20, 2024 0:01:08 GMT -8 Brian said:

For the first time since Daylight Saving Time ended, it was still dusk at the beginning of this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, depriving the flickering electronic candles that Anni lines up along the curb their full illumination for a few minutes.  And we had more company on the corner than last week thanks mostly to the groups of teenagers passing by and hanging around the frozen yogurt store.

Eleven regulars participated -- in order of appearance:  Jim, Anni, me, Roberta, Zari, Russell, Frannie, Jeanne, Nancy, Mike and Mary.

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

Thank you for your replies! I will come check it out. My schedule shifted for a bit but I think i can make it to the latter half of your vigils. If i brought my own power source do you know if i would still need a permit? I will do slme investigation as well. Thank you for the helpful info!