Vigils in March 2024

[Brian]

I brought an umbrella, my hat and several waterproof signs to this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil and needed all of that before the end of our stay. It was dry until the halfway mark when light intermittent showers began, then we got steady rain in the last few minutes.  Mike saw the storm headed our way in the west San Fernando Valley before he left his house perched in the Glendale hills.  We occupied two patches of grass next to often empty sidewalks while Zari coaxed more honks and waves from passing vehicles because she jumps up and down with her "Ceasefire in Gaza" sign to attract more attention.

Eight of the vigil's most diehard regulars came to the corner -- Nancy, Zari, Anni, me, Russell, Mike, Bruce and Jeanne, in order of arrival -- just two thirds of our average attendance in February.  Still, we had four demonstrators from the beginning and the full contingent for the last half hour.

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]

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, next week we will be seen in daylight for the entire vigil again. The official sunset was 5:56 p.m. during this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil but the sun sinks behind the Verdugo Hills much earlier, casting shadows over Montrose while the San Gabriel Mountains are still lit in yellow and orange hues. Yesterday I read that bills to keep standard time year round were introduced in California's Senate and Assembly -- voters had authorized a ballot proposition sold as 12 months of Daylight Saving Time, which would require approval from Congress and the president, but our legislature and governor could easily adopt standard time instead to keep us from changing our clocks twice a year.  I would hold a sign touting those bills if they come up for votes in Sacramento!

The temperature in the 60's brought more foot and wheel traffic than last week, along with a bigger vigil turnout.  Ten regulars participated:  Roberta, Jeanne, Anni, me, Dennis, Jim, Bruce, Mike, Russell and Frannie, in order of appearance.

For the first time in 16 weeks, we taped a large-type printout of a Defense Department news release on the utility pole during the vigil.  This one announced the death of a soldier with a distinguished career in "a non-combat related incident" at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.  We've posted hundreds of casualty reports for 13 years and I don't remember any uniformed deaths at embassies.  Also, this might be the first officially acknowledged noncombat casualty that didn't occur in a named operation.  I don't know what's going on at the Pentagon.  Lt. Col. Orlando Bandeira's hometown newspaper the Tampa Bay Times has more details about his life and a Facebook screenshot, but here's the release we posted on the corner:

www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3699887/dod-identifies-army-casualty/

[Brian]

A honking sedan rounded the corner in front of us at this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil and pulled into the nearest and conveniently the only open parking spot.  The passenger ran over while the driver waited.  A little breathless, she said that she had to stop because she saw the vigil every week and wanted to thank us for always being there, giving her more hope knowing that people were out there spreading a peace message.  We asked her to come back if she ever got the time -- it sounded like she might.  We didn't get her name but the hosannas continued as she returned to her ride.

Eleven regulars held signs in full daylight with the temperature again in the mid 60's.  In order of arrival:  Anni, me, Roberta, Zari, Russell, Frannie, Mary, Bruce, Nancy, Jeanne and Jim.

In the previous seven days, the Department of Defense reported no military deaths in Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria nor in any of the other named U.S. operations underway around the world.

[Brian]

A Glendale Police vehicle going eastbound on Honolulu crossed the double yellow lines and stopped behind the row of parked cars near the end of this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil.  Turns out that the officer had just been assigned to patrol Montrose after driving another beat in southern Glendale neighborhoods.  The vigil had a great turnout, big enough to occupy two patches of grass.  He was curious after noticing a bunch of people holding signs up to traffic beside the concrete bench.  Standing on the main patch in the middle of the wide corner, I missed the conversation, which lasted a couple of minutes, but Jeanne filled me in later.  We love all of the Glendale police officers we've met over the past 18 years -- and Anni still displays the Thank You First Responders sign we made in 2009 after the Station Fire.

Fourteen regulars were there.  In order of appearance:  Anni, me, Roberta, Zari, Russell, Frannie, Bruce, John B., Justeen, Mike, Jeanne, Nancy, Jim and Mary.

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

[Brian]

Two young women were finishing their frozen yogurt on the bench when Anni and I arrived on the corner for this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil.  One of them came over to read the Pentagon death announcement that we taped to the utility pole and we started to talk about women's rights.  She asked if she could check out the signs in our bag and soon she pulled out the "Regulate Dicks Too" sign that Mary made two years ago after the Dobbs decision with evident delight.  It has a cartoon rendition of male genitalia next to a pair of scissors.  She made a selfie of herself holding the sign so I have to count her in this week's census of vigil participants.

In order of appearance:  Jim, Anni, me, our new friend, Roberta, Zari, Dennis, Frannie, Mike, Bruce, Nancy, Mary and Yoshio, who always counts as a participant because he helped hold up the Peace Train panel one year.  My weekly headcount:

• Mar. 1 - 8
• Mar. 8 - 10
• Mar. 15 - 11
• Mar. 22 - 14
• Mar. 29 - 13

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

For the second time this month, we displayed a large-type printout of a Defense Department news release announcing a death in "a non-combat related incident." This casualty also did not occur in a named operation -- the sailor was "supporting operations in the Red Sea."

www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3716935/dod-identifies-navy-casualty/

[anni]

Brian snapped some fabulous photos at Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil:

[Roberta]

It gets lots of honks when we stand with it:

www.nytimes.com/2024/03/30/style/peace-sign-protest-war.html?unlocked_article_code=1.g00.ua5m.bqraTLUgGhhr&smid=url-share