thedrifter
01-02-07, 07:47 AM
War protesters hold silent vigil for fallen troops
By: YVETTE URREA - Staff Writer
SAN DIEGO -- Holding candles and signs, including one that stated "Not one more death. Not one more dollar," along the street outside the Balboa Naval Hospital, an estimated 175 people gathered to remember the 3,000 U.S. troops who have died fighting the war in Iraq.
Many North County residents joined the protest organized by the San Diego Coalition for Peace & Justice.
"We hit this 3,000 milestone, and we have to make a big deal of it because there's a big cost to this war," said Dave Patterson of Ramona, outgoing president for the San Diego Veterans for Peace.
No counter-protesters were seen. Many motorists honked and waved in apparent support of the anti-war protesters.
Protesters erected 30 white crosses to represent the dead and read the names of the U.S. men and women killed since the war started in March 2003.
The protesters also wanted to recognize the 650,000 Iraqis who have also died since the war began, said one organizer.
The Associated Press reported that the U.S. met the grim milestone of 3,000 on Dec. 31, capping off one of the most deadly months of 2006 with the death of 111 servicemen and women.
The Associated Press also reported that it has counted 13,738 dead Iraqi civilians, soldiers and police in 2006. Iraqi government officials put that figure at 16,273.
"I'm ... here to weep with those that are weeping," said Janet Gilbert, another Ramona resident. "I think it is a way to remember and honor the sacrifice that our American military is making (and) to recognize that we want our troops to come home."
Gilbert brought a German exchange student who is living with her family and shares their views of the war.
Maria Hennig, 16, said, "I totally agree with the protest against the war."
She added that the majority of Europeans are against the Iraq war, do not think it is justified and believe that "lives are just wasted."
Another woman, Margie Farrelly of San Marcos, who is a member of the coalition, said, "We just want to support the troops. We understand the hardships that their families are enduring. We believe this war is an illegal invasion and occupation of a sovereign nation, and we should bring the troops home before any more have to die."
Jim Brown of Encinitas, a member of Veterans for Peace, said he knows firsthand what it is like when the government refuses to accept a losing battle, because he was a Marine who fought in the Vietnam War.
"I think it's absurd sending more troops over there," Brown said. "It's a sinking ship, send them home. The country is in total chaos. We're sacrificing our troops for nothing over there."
One coalition organizer, Lace Watkins of Lemon Grove, said they chose to protest across the street from the Naval hospital because of the wounded military there, and that there are no official counts of the wounded.
"There are war-wounded in there that may or may not be able to live a full life because of physical or mental problems," Watkins said.
Additionally, Watkins said it is her belief that the U.S. death count put out by the government is kept artificially low to keep the American people from knowing the full magnitude of loss.
Watkins said it is not the military members the protesters are against, it is the people pulling the strings of the military who are sending more troops to war.
-- Contact staff writer Yvette Urrea at (760) 901-4076 or yurrea@nctimes.com.
Ellie
By: YVETTE URREA - Staff Writer
SAN DIEGO -- Holding candles and signs, including one that stated "Not one more death. Not one more dollar," along the street outside the Balboa Naval Hospital, an estimated 175 people gathered to remember the 3,000 U.S. troops who have died fighting the war in Iraq.
Many North County residents joined the protest organized by the San Diego Coalition for Peace & Justice.
"We hit this 3,000 milestone, and we have to make a big deal of it because there's a big cost to this war," said Dave Patterson of Ramona, outgoing president for the San Diego Veterans for Peace.
No counter-protesters were seen. Many motorists honked and waved in apparent support of the anti-war protesters.
Protesters erected 30 white crosses to represent the dead and read the names of the U.S. men and women killed since the war started in March 2003.
The protesters also wanted to recognize the 650,000 Iraqis who have also died since the war began, said one organizer.
The Associated Press reported that the U.S. met the grim milestone of 3,000 on Dec. 31, capping off one of the most deadly months of 2006 with the death of 111 servicemen and women.
The Associated Press also reported that it has counted 13,738 dead Iraqi civilians, soldiers and police in 2006. Iraqi government officials put that figure at 16,273.
"I'm ... here to weep with those that are weeping," said Janet Gilbert, another Ramona resident. "I think it is a way to remember and honor the sacrifice that our American military is making (and) to recognize that we want our troops to come home."
Gilbert brought a German exchange student who is living with her family and shares their views of the war.
Maria Hennig, 16, said, "I totally agree with the protest against the war."
She added that the majority of Europeans are against the Iraq war, do not think it is justified and believe that "lives are just wasted."
Another woman, Margie Farrelly of San Marcos, who is a member of the coalition, said, "We just want to support the troops. We understand the hardships that their families are enduring. We believe this war is an illegal invasion and occupation of a sovereign nation, and we should bring the troops home before any more have to die."
Jim Brown of Encinitas, a member of Veterans for Peace, said he knows firsthand what it is like when the government refuses to accept a losing battle, because he was a Marine who fought in the Vietnam War.
"I think it's absurd sending more troops over there," Brown said. "It's a sinking ship, send them home. The country is in total chaos. We're sacrificing our troops for nothing over there."
One coalition organizer, Lace Watkins of Lemon Grove, said they chose to protest across the street from the Naval hospital because of the wounded military there, and that there are no official counts of the wounded.
"There are war-wounded in there that may or may not be able to live a full life because of physical or mental problems," Watkins said.
Additionally, Watkins said it is her belief that the U.S. death count put out by the government is kept artificially low to keep the American people from knowing the full magnitude of loss.
Watkins said it is not the military members the protesters are against, it is the people pulling the strings of the military who are sending more troops to war.
-- Contact staff writer Yvette Urrea at (760) 901-4076 or yurrea@nctimes.com.
Ellie