Last night's vigil was joined by John Fortier, a Korean War veteran who conducts a peace vigil every Friday evening nearby.
John is a compassionate man and a 76-year-old retired school teacher who volunteers his time and energy to continue to teach, with a group of deaf students being his latest class.
But John also had the foresight to begin conducting vigils just before the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003 believing it would be a huge mistake. Subsequent events have proven him right.
Last night he discussed his disappointment in President Obama, a man he had voted for and had hoped really would bring change. "When I thought of him, I thought of 'Profiles in Courage,' " John stated.
"Profiles," is a 1955 Pulitzer Prize winning, best selling book, attributed to John F. Kennedy, which tells the stories of eight U.S. Senators over the history of the Senate, who boldly risked their careers and their honor to do what they thought was right.
"I thought Barack Obama would stand up to the military," John said. "But nothing has changed. It's business as usual."
But before John left, I pointed out something so subtle, that most people would have missed it. While he and I were speaking, a 9 ish boy in a truck stared so intensely at the sign, his little eyes looked like ping pong balls.
He and his 35 ish father then got into a vigorous conversation about the vigil as the man emphatically motioned with his hands and nodded his head as the boy pointed to the sign.
This vigil had initiated a father-son dialogue that might not have taken place without it. And none of us know how the dialogue may influence that child over the years to come.
Later, as the vigil drew to a close, a car stopped and an 8 ish little girl read the sign and the darkness was suddenly lit with the glow of her smile while she energetically waved her support. Her 40 ish father matched her smile and her wave as he clearly supported the vigil.
It's heart warming to know others care and that just maybe, one of these children may some day help make a difference in preventing a future war.
Dick
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