The first day we had a memorial gathering at the Veterans Memorial Park in Mobile. One of the most moving of the memorials was the "Eyes Wide Open" display of boots sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee.
Not only were there boots representing U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq, but also a display of civilian shoes to represent the many more deaths of Iraqi citizens.
Most sad was this pair of children's shoes, signifying the real tragic human cost of the war.
Here is Iraq Vet, Kelly Dougherty, one of the founders of IVAW, speaking to us about her experience in Iraq.
There were several women vets from Iraq on the March. It was most sad to experience what today's army is doing in the horrors of the Iraq quagmire not only to the young men of their generation but to the young women as well. I note that neither of Bush's two daughters, nor any son or daughter of any of the administrations leaders, nor any son or daughter of the over 500 Congresspersons are susceptible to serve in the military in Iraq. Kelly was a member of the Colorado National Guard and served convoy escort duty as a Military Policewoman.
Vietnam Vet and one of the coordinators of the March, Elliot Adams, makes the point that when we vets of Vietnam returned from our war we vowed "Never again!~!~!" Welp, we failed. We did not continue the fight for peace and justice. We allowed the chickenhawks and denizens of what Eisenhower in his last speech as president named the M I C C -- the Military Industrial Congressional Complex -- lead us into another quagmire in the so-called War on Terrorism.
As I mentioned, the intergenerational dynamic of young Iraq vets with us older vets from the Gulf War, Bosnia, the wars during the 80s in Central and South America, and us really old dogs, the VietVets, was most powerful. We lend our experience and wisdom to the younger vets, and they inspire us and enspirit us with their youthful enthusiasm and energy. It makes for a very powerful coalition.
Here is Iraq vet Michael Blake walking with Vietnam Vet, Jim Driscoll, Marine vet from Vietnam. Jim has started an organization, Vets4Vets, an outreach group of Iraq Vets who help heal each other from the ravages of their war.
But there is another critical element in this coalition -- that is the involvement of the families who send their loved ones into unnecessary battle, the members of Military Families Speak Out. Stacy Bannerman was present for the entire march and collected signatures of all participants in one of her recently published When the War Came Home to auction off on eBay. She spoke very movingly of her pain and sadness that her husband will be leaving soon for his second tour of duty in Iraq.
The saddest persons to hear from are those family members of Gold Star Families for Peace, such as the galvinizing Cindy Sheehan, who has spearheaded the Peace Movement since last August when she established Camp Casey at the Crawford, Texas ranch of President Bush. These courageous people have made the greatest sacrifice, the loss of their sons or daughters, husbands or wives, in needless battle. They have to daily live with the awful reality that their loved one was killed for the lies of the Bush Administration, who preemptively went to war against Iraq with no justification or legal authority save for their own greed and the greed of the corporations whom they primarily serve.
This is Mike (at the microphone) and Al, fathers of soldiers killed in Iraq, and Cindy's sister, whose nephew Casey was killed. They bear the gravest burden.
Comments