John Fortier is a Korean War veteran, retired school teacher and a husband, father, grandfather and great- grandfather who as a peace activist, has held weekly peace vigils in Redondo Beach, CA since just before President Bush launched the Iraq War in March, 2003. For the hour of his two hour vigil I attended Friday two things happened worthy of note:
1) The vigil was joined for 10 - 15 minutes by a 70 year old Vietnam War veteran, a man who had been a Navy SEAL, and like John, is a retired school teacher. He too adamantly opposes the current wars and seemed pleased to have a place to go to express his opposition.
2) Three 13 ish age boys walked by the vigil, and after we greeted them, I asked if any of them are aware of the wars, for many people have little awareness the U.S. is at war. Two of the boys shrugged, but the third one responded. He is aware of the Afghanistan War and said, "It's kinda pointless," words I would agree with.
That John has held several hundred peace vigils appealing to people's consciences, and continues to do so despite widespread public and media apathy to all the death and destruction is a real tribute to him. John knows the horrors of war first hand and he is doing everything in his power to stop them.
Dick
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