"Thank you for doing that," said a 40 ish women about the vigil, as she smiled and waved from her car. "I work in a pet store and I have a customer whose husband is about to leave for Afghanistan. She is very young, only 23. I have another customer whose husband just got back from Afghanistan."
As she finished her comment, John Fortier asked her if she would like a peace symbol pin, as he held it out for her to see. This bright blue pin is the size of a poker chip. When she beamed a big smile and said she'd love to have it, he stepped out on to the street, Pacific Coast Highway, a street packed with rush hour traffic, and handed it to her.
"Thank you," she replied. "I needed that."
As the signal turned green and she pulled out, waving goodbye to us, a 65 ish woman walked up, read the sign and with a big smile, high fived me, as she said in a booming voice, "Right On!"
As she walked off, a 30 ish man with a back pack and carrying a skate board read the sign. And then without saying a word, he walked up and hugged John who was standing directly behind the sign.
It was a busy vigil, as most are, and it was joined by a 50 ish couple who often participate and later by an 80 ish man who is regaining his strength after having had neck spinal cord surgery a month ago. He said he understood the Korean and Vietnam Wars were "necessary" but he expressed his frustration at the current wars of which he sees no purpose.
A bit later when the vigil ended, as John and I were walking away, another car honked its support despite the sign no longer being visible. It is assuring to know that the vigil reaches so many people, especially at a time when the U.S. news media gives so little coverage to these wars, let alone the wars' victims.
Dick
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