78 year old John Fortier, a Korean War
veteran, retired school teacher and a husband, father, grandfather and
great-grandfather has held a weekly Redondo Beach, CA peace vigil since right
before President Bush ordered the invasion and occupation of Iraq in March,
2003. Often, Jon has held his vigil with no other visible support, just one man,
a peace flag and a peace sign.
But this week, the
local newspaper, the Daily Breeze published a piece about John's peace vigil and
he got some additional attendees http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_20416793/my-turn-one-mans-vigil-peace Having
been there last night, I would like to tell you about those
attendees:
Laura: Laura was a German girl aged 9 to 14 during
World War ll said her father fought for "the wrong side," (Nazi Germany) and
he was killed during the war. She felt most Americans have no idea what war is
really like and take no interest in the current U.S. wars. All these years
later, 81 year old Laura well remembers "the bombs" falling and how "terrifying"
it was, and all the death and destruction those bombs caused.
Laura recalls how she and her mother raised a vegetable garden so they
would have something to eat, when many Germans were starving after the war, with
practically everything in short supply. She was grateful to John for hosting his
vigil and hopeful that the U.S. will end its wars and take a greater interest in
helping others, not killing them.
Jeannie: Jeannie is 81 years of
age and has five grown children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is a devout Roman Catholic and has been praying for peace. On occasion, she
goes on a Retreat to pray and to be in silence as she contemplates the world,
her life and the meaning of life. She is deeply troubled by the U.S.'s wars and
asked John if violence is ever necessary.
He told her rarely is violence
necessary, but stated World War ll was a time when it was necessary. But he also
referenced the U.S.'s actions before the war that to some extent forced Japan's
hand, which led to the Pearl Harbor attack and catapulted the U.S. into
war.
Jeannie said when she condemns the U.S.'s wars to her children and
grandchildren, they just right-off her opinions and either they support the wars
or ignore them. She has a grandson who was a drug user before joining the
Marines. He feels the Marines saved what had been his deeply troubled life. He
served in Iraq and doesn't discuss with her what he saw and did, and she said
she was "afraid" to ask him if he killed anyone there, for the answer might
upset her.
Today, he works under contract to the Marines and trains
soldiers to fight and kill. This troubles her. When she speaks to other
parishioners in her church, they take little interest in the wars which
frustrates and disappoints her. But she felt better after speaking to a young
Priest who shared many of her feelings about war.
Jeannie said she has
lived a full-life and is ready to go. But recently, her granddaughter, needing
to work so she and her fiance can afford to buy a home, gave Jeannie her eight
month old son to take care of each business day. With a big smile, that turned
into a warm a glow, Jeannie explained that at first, she didn't think she would
be up to caring for a child that young and needy. But it turns out she loves it
and is readily up to it.
She thanked John for conducting his peace vigil
and strongly encouraged him to continue. His peace vigil gives her
hope that there are other people like her, who feel these wars are horribly
wrong.
Oliver: Oliver is in his late 80's and served in the Army
during World War ll and in the Navy during the Korean War. As a civilian,
he worked for Douglas Aircraft (now Boeing) for 47 years, including the credit
they gave him for his time in the military, and he retired in 1989.
He
and his wife have been married since 1954, have four children (three living) and
grandchildren. They have lived in the same home they bought several months after
they married (over 57 years in that home).
Having participated in the
horrors of war, Oliver adamantly opposes them. He joined three different peace
vigils around the time of the Iraq War launch but was disappointed at the lack
of continued vigils and peace activity over the years since then.
At
church, he finds some people want the U.S. to attack Iran, who they feel is a
threat. He shakes his head in disbelief, understanding they don't know what war
is like and don't know what they are really saying in terms of killing and
maiming others and orphaning children.
Oliver had driven about 10 miles
to join John's vigil last night and stayed until it was time for the vigil to
end. He thanked John for conducting it and from his words, tone of voice and
body language, seemed deeply grateful someone is holding a peace
vigil.
John Fortier: During the vigil, there was one man who
angrily thrust his middle finger up as he drove by, his way of condemning this
gathering for peace. But these fits of obnoxious behavior are to be expected.
John just laughed and waved to him.
As a Korean War veteran, John knows
first hand the horrors of war and through his 9 year old peace vigil,
totaling several hundred vigils, he is determined to appeal to America's
conscience to stop these wars. It is vital to him and he sets a
wonderful example for people who witness his vigil, as he graciously and warmly
makes everyone welcome.
To You Dear Reader: Perhaps it was just my
imagination but last night it seemed there were more horn honks and waves of
support for John's vigil then I had witnessed ever before. If so, maybe it was
because the article helped others to better understand who John is, his courage
to do what he does and what his vigil is about.
Dick
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