John Fortier's Peace Vigil, 2/18/11

Last night John, a 77 year old Korean War veteran held his Redondo Beach, CA peace vigil along side Pacific Coast Highway, despite a driving rain swept by 25 mph winds in a 52 degree temperature. The winds blew so hard, at one point they turned his umbrella inside-out and he was pelted by the rain.

His vigil began at 4 pm and I joined him at 4:50. In the 20 minutes I was out there, despite my umbrella and heavy jacket, I got soaked. John's wife Michelle arrived with their little mutt Sparky, a beige critter who is a foot tall and a foot and half long and like Michelle, he too was so soaked. Michelle was so cold, that despite the warmth of her hug, her nose felt like an ice cube.

She appealed to John to stop the vigil, as did I, and he finally relented at 5:10 pm, but only to help a young lady that Michelle said had car trouble and was stalled at the side of a busy street.

Each week, John appeals to the consciences of others for peace and his sign is a simple one, "War Is Not The Answer." He is so determined to make that appeal, that he braved a rainstorm few others would leave their warm and dry cars or homes to go out in.

Dick