| This afternoon's Moratorium started out like our past events had with about 10 people standing near the Veterans Memorial on Chelsea Parade. We held signs, showed the peace sign with our hands or waved.
Many cars passed by either honking or giving us the thumbs up or peace sign. The afternoon turned into evening and the temperature dropped.
About that time a car pulled up along side of us and a young man clad in a kind of sports jersey came out. We weren't sure what to expect, but were pleasantly surprised when he reached out to shake our hands and thank us for exercising the right his fellow marines were in Iraq for. He said he was a marine and due to head over there for the first time very soon. He appreciated what we were doing.
We explained to him that we were not against the soldiers but against the war that the administration had placed them in. We asked him to convey to his fellow marines once he was in Iraq that we support them wholeheartedly, but we want them home and ready to actually defend our nation should a real threat occur.
I honestly got the feeling that he did not believe in the war, but as a marine he was going to do his duty.
He was truly a respectful young man, and I only wished I could somehow keep him from going, from having to experience the horrors of war that would change him. I only wish this war was over now.
If ever I had a moment of doubt about the value of this Moratorium or any other anti-war demonstration, tonight made it perfectly clear. For all those people who sit on the sidelines not wanting or caring to speak out, we do. |
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