John Fortier Peace Vigil, 2/28/14

Dear Reader, John Fortier is a Korean War veteran, a husband, father, grandfather and a great grandfather, as well as a retired school teacher, He has conducted a weekly peace vigil in Redondo Beach (Los Angeles area) since just before President Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq, a war that cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

In this piece, John speaks to the loss of my Uncle Gene who died Thursday, 2/27/14 and a man I was very close to all of my life. Uncle Gene incidentally began serving in the U.S. Army at the end of World War 2 (1945).

I didn't attend John's peace vigil last night because I was hurting. John understood the problem and referenced his own experience during the Korean War (a War that lasted from 1950 - 1953). His comments of "survivor's remorse" are interesting.  


Hey, Dick  ~

My advice is don't sit on any corners or enter any dance contests until you regain your composure. And 'survivor's remorse' is a very real phenomenon; that's one thing I learned in the service. When I lost a friend, I had to accept the fact that it was not my fault; there was nothing I could do about it. The remorse included guilt, guilt for not being a better friend when he was alive. But nobody can un-ring that bell, and I'm sure you were as good a friend as one can be.

I sat down to email you my thanks for NOT coming tonight. But there was not a drop of rain. Cold ?  Yes, it was chilly on the hands and neck, but my jacket had pockets and my neck had a scarf. The foot traffic and car traffic were very supportive. I suspect some of it was weather influenced pity, but I don't mind. A honk's a honk.

I truly am sorry for your loss, Dick, and there'll be other Friday corners.

John