"Is this sign for everyone who has died there or is it just for the military," asked a 50 ish woman as she walked up and stared at the sign.
"It is for everyone," I replied.
"The Vietnam War was fought in the late 60's, early 70's," she stated after staring at the sign a little longer. "And those soldiers are just now getting a day in recognition of them. Maybe people won't spit on them anymore."
With that comment, she turned and walked away.
A short time later a 35 ish women drove up slowly to the vigil and then with a big smile, leaned across the passenger seat and held up two of her fingers in a peace sign. But what made this occurrence special was she had two little boys in the back seat and the older one, about 7, smiled broadly, influenced by what he had seen.
His mother will likely discuss with him what the vigil is about and perhaps at some future time, he too will stand-up for a principle he believes in.
"Thank you for doing this," said a man as he and his wife walked up, she pushing a baby stroller. "You've continued to do this for a long time and that means a lot to us.
"I had a friend in that war," he remarked in a serious tone of voice as he stared at the sign, seemingly lost in thought. "He was my age and I'm 31."
"He was killed at the start of the war," his wife said while looking at her husband and filling in the silence. "It's important to us that you don't let people like him and thousands of others be forgotten," he stated firmly as we shook hands.
A few minutes later, as the vigil came to a close, a driver in a giant Chevron gas truck pulling a gas trailer waved vigorously in support of the vigil. He then blasted his air horn which was so loud it could have been heard a hundred yards away.
His response captured every one's attention and his message of support was a nice way to conclude the evening as we remember in our hearts all who have paid a severe price in this war.
Dick
2 comments:
Nice to hear that the majority of people support your efforts! Thank you for taking the time out of your day to do this. You have now spent more than eight 24 hour days conducting the vigil.
My son Kyle of beachfnt made a kind comment and it is very much appreciated.
He's right. Since January, 2006 a lot of time has been invested in those vigils, including the time it takes to write a summary of them for this website.
The large majority of people who drive by the vigil have always appeared to be indifferent, as they stare forward or look another direction. But unless one is callous to the suffering of others, on some level they care. And the vigil reaches them.
It is for the thousands of them, as well as for the many others who do support these vigils that they are conducted. The vigils are meant to remind people of the severe price in lives that has been paid and is being paid.
It is so horrible, that seldom is it shown in the U.S. and rarely are the stories of the families told, for that would humanize their loss.
No amount of U.S. propaganda can justify the horror that has been inflicted on the men, women and children of Iraq, and to the families of the U.S. and allied soldiers there.
The least we in America can do is keep these people in our hearts, and to do what we can to alleviate their suffering.
Dick
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