Honor the Fallen - Vigil for Peace
Friday, November 17, 2006 at 7:00pm - (Print Flyer)
Courthouse at 45 South Main Street in Bel Air, MD

Reminder.... Candle Vigil on Nov. 17th @7PM at the Harford County Courthouse across from 45 South Main St. Bel Air, Md. Bring your own sign and candle, or use ours.

I must admit that it was a huge wave of relief when the election results came in and the current administration had been given the boot. I guess it was a relief because there have been many moments when we would think that there were so few of us that realized how insane this war is and didn't feel like anyone was paying attention. Now it seems that the average person knew the war was a disaster, but was just uncomfortable discussing it, or dealing with it. But they came out and let their voices be heard on election day, and that was when it counted the most. When the new administration starts, its going to be time to pressure them to no end.

UFPJ (United for Peace & Justice) says ....For the antiwar movement, yesterday was a huge victory. By voting out pro-war candidates and making Iraq the central issue in the elections, we have translated antiwar sentiment into political power and made ourselves a force to be reckoned with. Congratulations to all of you who have contributed so much to bring us to this point.

And what they say is the truth.... All of the phone calls to representatives, email letters to Senators, vigil attendance, bumper stickers, and even just discussing with friends and coworkers how we need to bring our troops home... this is the kind of stuff that brings about change. And while it may seem standing in Downtown Bel Air with a candle isn't doing anything... multiply that by groups across the country and it does make a difference. We all deserve a pat on the back for caring enough to let our voices be heard, and especially for voting for peace.

Good job all!

Hope to see you Friday,

Mike and Susan

10/26/06

October has quickly turned into one of the deadliest months for our soldiers. Here we are at 2800 deaths already. Is this what convinced our fearless leader to announce that he will no longer use the term "stay the course"? Who knows... but what we do know is that there have been 2596 American soldiers killed since the President made that ridiculous statement..."Bring them on!" Slowly, but surely, it's becoming apparent to main stream America more than ever that it is time to "Bring them Home", and as always, it is up to the people like all of us to vigil and raise public awareness even more.

The vigil for 2800 will be November 17th, in front of the Harford county courthouse @ 7PM. As always feel free to bring your own sign and candle or use ours. I have also attached some flyers that you are welcome to print out and hang on bulletin boards, car windshields, etc. Even if they do not come to this vigil, it may get them to join the email list for future events... or get involved in some other way. We will never truly realize how receiving one flyer can effect someone's life.... they could just throw it in the trash, but they also could take it to heart.

Below we have added some excerpts from a Gold Star mother's letter. She writes Just4peace on occasion and is on our mailing list. We honor her son's name along with the Maryland soldiers at the vigil, and her poem "How?" hangs on the Honor the Fallen wall. Her letters help inspire us to keep the vigil candles lit.

Take care, and hope to see you on the 17th...

Mike and Susan

Letter to Just 4 Peace from Goldstar Mother Summer Lipford

I am still waiting for my life to improve, or deal with the loss of Steven, it hasn't happened yet. I suppose someday there will be a time that the tears will not come at the sight of BBQ chips at the grocery store or WWF on television, things that remind me instantly that no matter where I look I will not see Steven. I try everyday to find joy in my life, and although there is still much to be thankful for, a dark cloud hangs over the best of times and a hole in my heart that a cold winds rips through, the happiest of times are often the saddest ...

I have questioned myself so many times why I am stuck in this place, this place of sadness, I have come to the conclusion it is not just sadness, but anger... angry that so many people really don't care, don't understand or have just become complacent with their $3.00 cup of Starbucks, driving to work in their SUV, and would rather be spoon fed BS than to look for the truth. Angry that my son is dead for no particular reason other than greed, ego and profiteering. Angry that there is no "Grateful Nation" at my son�s grave. Angry that my son has all but been forgotten by this administration.

Steven's body was returned to me April 21, 2005, 4:30pm, at Charlotte Douglas Airport . The plane had cargo, animals and luggage removed immediately, the passengers were not made aware of the truly precious cargo this plane did carry. The plane was then parked on the tarmac until after 8:00 pm that evening, Steven was unloaded by airport personnel on a conveyor belt after dark, just as the luggage and cargo had been unloaded earlier, he was sent home to me in the cloak of darkness. Steven went to Iraq in broad daylight with his head held so high for all to see, to see what a proud, brave soldier looked liked going to war, defending his country, yet he came home in darkness. So dark and so secretive so no one could see what a brave young soldier looked like being sent back to his mother for the last time...How
dare they!!! How dare they treat my baby like this!!!

So....I have anger...I have sadness....I live a life forever changed, never to be the same again.

I still pray God will allow me to dream of Steven, if I could sleep. I have his shirt he wore the day he left for Iraq, he changed into his BDU's and I took the shirt he had been wearing and put it in a bag, brought it home and put it in my closet. I took it out a couple of times while he was gone, to smell him, it has been 18 months ago today I received the news. The shirt has lost his smell, his voice is fading from my mind, but the love I have is as strong and deep and the sorrow is the same.

I do want you to know every time I receive an email about your vigils I say a silent "thank you". It will be people as yourself (meaning ALL of us) who will help stop this madness. It will be people like you who will end the nightmare we live and the Iraqi people must live. It will be people like you who will help stop one more mother from living in my world and walking my path. God Bless you both....

Please keep working....Please help us have these people held accountable...Please, without you we may never have justice.

In Peace,
Summer Lipford
Proud Mother of PFC Steven Sirko, Age 20 years,
Needlessly taken from my life April 17, 2005

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.