Honor the Fallen - Vigil for Peace
Friday, September 8, 2006 at 7:00pm (PHOTOS)
Courthouse at 45 South Main Street in Bel Air, MD

Wow.... 85 people came out Friday night to the vigil.....85! And to make it even better, there were a lot of young people. (Not that us old folks aren't just as important) But, somehow... seeing people in their teens and twenties gives us hope. After all, it is their generation that is going to have this mess we're creating in the Middle East dropped in their laps. So it gives us hope to know that they are aware and aren't afraid to be radical enough to step up and say it's time to end the war.

We cannot thank 11th grader Kim enough for her heartfelt talk about her cousin Keith Bennett. It was quite impressive to see a young lady such as Kim, stand up and speak in front of a such a large group. I have a feeling that she will be making quite a positive mark in the world in her future.

For those of you who weren't able to make it, her cousin Keith was a national guard who was killed by a suicide bomber in Dec. 2005. Her talk, full of emotion, touched everyone present in a way that made the deaths of every one of the 2666 soldiers too real.

It is quite overwhelming when you figure how many parents, siblings, cousins and friends lives are touched for every loss of every soldier. Then take that same equation and apply it to the tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis that have been

killed in the crossfire. The only exception is that their sorrow is accompanied by a renewed hatred for America. Please explain to me how that is supposed to end terrorism and make us feel safer?

Just in case you ever feel the vigils aren't being noticed, I am copying part of an email we received after this last vigil. It read as follows...

"I passed by the rally this past Friday evening on my way to the Bel Air Bakery. My 13 year old son was in the car. We both waved and honked in support of your efforts. After our bakery excursion, he wanted to go back and join in with the rally. How do we get involved in what you are doing? Please let me know ways to help."

People DO notice and it DOES make them think....whether we realize it or not.

We also would like to say that just4peace does not endorse any candidates for office. However, we do support the Voters for Peace Pledge. This is a petition that shows the candidates that we are serious about ending the war, and that it is a primary issue for us in deciding which candidate to vote for.
Well, thanks again for all that attended and thanks to all that have the courage to step up for peace. Mike and Susan

(08/28/06) 2,630 Soldiers have lost their lives in the occupation. Since our last vigil on 07/21/06 five more Maryland soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice: Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Swanson, DoD 07/22/06, Age 25 (Rose Haven, MD) ● Naval Petty Officer 2nd Class Edward Koth, DoD 07/26/06, Age 30 (Towson) ● Marine Lance Cpl. James Higgins, DoD 07/27/06, Age 22 (Frederick, MD) ● Army Specialist James Barbieri, DoD 08/23/06, Age 24 (Gaithersburg, MD) ● Marine Staff Sergeant Dwayne E. Williams, DoD 08/24/06, Age 28 (Baltimore, MD)

Note: We DO Respect and honor families who have lost loved ones and may not agree with us. If they support the war; everyone must cope and come to terms with their loss. We respect them for doing so.