GAS Notice #33- Year 4- post event
(3/19)- The Year 4 Observance went well, we got coverage from two TV stations and two newspapers, and a live interview on channel 4. Thanks to everybody who helped out, spoke, or showed up. Anybody with pictures please send them in.
Five people were added to the email distribution today and yesterday, the total is now 104.
If anybody has a suggestion for a public place where the bead structure could reside for the remaining duration of the war, an art gallery for instance, send it in.
The thinking for the next event is a get together in the park one Saturday this summer to make 1000 additional candles for Year 5, put together more bead kits, and generally do park type things such as grilling and running about. One idea for a twilight activity is to make a 100 ft high 3500 points of light candle portrait of Bush, if anybody has any thoughts on how to do this email them in.
(3/19)- The Year 4 Observance went well, we got coverage from two TV stations and two newspapers, and a live interview on channel 4. Thanks to everybody who helped out, spoke, or showed up. Anybody with pictures please send them in.
Five people were added to the email distribution today and yesterday, the total is now 104.
If anybody has a suggestion for a public place where the bead structure could reside for the remaining duration of the war, an art gallery for instance, send it in.
The thinking for the next event is a get together in the park one Saturday this summer to make 1000 additional candles for Year 5, put together more bead kits, and generally do park type things such as grilling and running about. One idea for a twilight activity is to make a 100 ft high 3500 points of light candle portrait of Bush, if anybody has any thoughts on how to do this email them in.
Iraq War Year 4 Observance, Bergamo Square, March 18, 2007
Greenville News Photos Antiwar protest recalls those who died in fighting
Channel 4 Greenville candle lighting marks four years of war in Iraq
Greenville News Photos Antiwar protest recalls those who died in fighting
Channel 4 Greenville candle lighting marks four years of war in Iraq
3,218 candles for US soldiers
500,000 beads for the Iraqi dead
500,000 beads for the Iraqi dead
Soldier
3000
- January 1, 2007 -
3000 candles in Reedy River Falls Park marking the 3000th US soldier killed in Iraq.
One candle for the estimated 665,000 Iraqi dead.
- January 1, 2007 -
3000 candles in Reedy River Falls Park marking the 3000th US soldier killed in Iraq.
One candle for the estimated 665,000 Iraqi dead.
GAS Notice #16- Soldier 3000- post event
The Soldier 3000 candle lighting went well. Channel 4 showed up, though we hadn't put out a press release. Pictures posted on website, anybody have any shots email them in. We're sending pictures out to the media.
Thanks to whoever donated the $100.
Candles alone can't convey cost of war
Greenville News, January 20
Recently I attended the Greenville Antiwar Society's candle lighting at Falls Park to commemorate the 3,000th soldier who'd died in Iraq. The group planned the layout for a majestic star covering the lawn beside the river. After lighting the 3,000 candles in their plastic cups (plus a single center candle for the over 600,000 civilians whose lives have been lost), the star lit the lawn in a heart-wrenching reminder of the cost of the war.
After the candles were lit, several people began reading the names and ages of the soldiers from the stickers affixed to each cup. As I was reading names aloud, one woman asked why we were reading the names. My answer was inadequate.
We read the names because, though the candles are uniform and symbolic, the names are unique and personal. The names remind us that these candles signify real people, sons and daughters, dads and moms, neighbors and friends. They are the names of those who, thinking they were fighting for "our freedom," died for the lies of this administration. They are the names of teenagers who thought the military afforded them their only chance at an education, which they'd never receive. They are the names of immigrants, not yet Americans, hoping that serving their new homeland would help them be valued as the citizens that they never became.
These candles don't represent numbers. They represent people. People who were, and still are, loved.
Ann Cothran, Belton
The Soldier 3000 candle lighting went well. Channel 4 showed up, though we hadn't put out a press release. Pictures posted on website, anybody have any shots email them in. We're sending pictures out to the media.
Thanks to whoever donated the $100.
Candles alone can't convey cost of war
Greenville News, January 20
Recently I attended the Greenville Antiwar Society's candle lighting at Falls Park to commemorate the 3,000th soldier who'd died in Iraq. The group planned the layout for a majestic star covering the lawn beside the river. After lighting the 3,000 candles in their plastic cups (plus a single center candle for the over 600,000 civilians whose lives have been lost), the star lit the lawn in a heart-wrenching reminder of the cost of the war.
After the candles were lit, several people began reading the names and ages of the soldiers from the stickers affixed to each cup. As I was reading names aloud, one woman asked why we were reading the names. My answer was inadequate.
We read the names because, though the candles are uniform and symbolic, the names are unique and personal. The names remind us that these candles signify real people, sons and daughters, dads and moms, neighbors and friends. They are the names of those who, thinking they were fighting for "our freedom," died for the lies of this administration. They are the names of teenagers who thought the military afforded them their only chance at an education, which they'd never receive. They are the names of immigrants, not yet Americans, hoping that serving their new homeland would help them be valued as the citizens that they never became.
These candles don't represent numbers. They represent people. People who were, and still are, loved.
Ann Cothran, Belton
Nov. 4 Candle Lighting in Bergamo Square
Greenville News
To: admin@greenvilleantiwarsociety.com
Subject: Wish I had been there
Please put me on your email list to receive notification of future events. I have a son presently serving in
Iraq with the Army. I believe that the war is a useless waste of the lives of our young men and women.
2829 candles for US soldiers, 1 for the estimated 665,000 Iraqi dead
To: admin@greenvilleantiwarsociety.com
Subject: Wish I had been there
Please put me on your email list to receive notification of future events. I have a son presently serving in
Iraq with the Army. I believe that the war is a useless waste of the lives of our young men and women.
2829 candles for US soldiers, 1 for the estimated 665,000 Iraqi dead
More Candles at VigilIlluminate Sobering Reality
11/4- GAS notice #7- Nov. 4 Candle Lighting- post event
Another reasonably uneventful event. Once again, nobody caught fire.
Getting the 510 new candles ready and checking the old candles in the square beforehand worked out, the amount of time and the number of people were about right, though the square turned noticeably lonely around 4:31. Gold star to Professor Blackwell for being the first to arrive.
The Greenville News and Fox were there, will post coverage on the website.
Total attendance was somewhere between 100-150. Thanks to everybody that showed up, particularly the candle workers.
Please send in photos for posting on the website.
Projecting 3200-3300 for Year 4 in March.Iraq War Year 3 Rally/Vigil, March 19, Bergamo Square Greenville News TheBeat WYFF4 FOX
post event summary:
It went well. Reports are we got some good press from the networks, we'll see what the print media says.
We need any photographs anybody has of the event, please email them in.
Estimated attendance was 200, a 300% increase from Soldier 2000. So that's good. Thanks to everybody who came out.
We now have a higher volume PA system, courtesy Terry Walker.
Lighter stick count is up to 24, including a rather slick wind resistant Scripto.
Hardcopy Year 4 speaking invitations are in work for our elected federal representatives.
It went well. Reports are we got some good press from the networks, we'll see what the print media says.
We need any photographs anybody has of the event, please email them in.
Estimated attendance was 200, a 300% increase from Soldier 2000. So that's good. Thanks to everybody who came out.
We now have a higher volume PA system, courtesy Terry Walker.
Lighter stick count is up to 24, including a rather slick wind resistant Scripto.
Hardcopy Year 4 speaking invitations are in work for our elected federal representatives.
Year 3: Update 12- FINAL
3/19
Chance of rain has dropped from 30% to 10%, but everybody needs to bring all the umbrellas they can, just in case.
And don't forget the lighter sticks.
It looks like Amy A. Duerksen, 19, will be the last named fatality for the event, she was added to the final printout a few minutes ago.
Congressman Bob Inglis March 22, 2006
Senator Lindsey Graham
Senator Jim DeMint
Re: Iraq War Year 3 Rally/Vigil
Congressman and Senators:
The Greenville Antiwar Society is sending you this notice of our Iraq War Year 3 Rally/Vigil, as part of an ongoing effort to make you sufficiently concerned about the political consequences of the Iraq war to pursue its prompt termination.
On Sunday, March 19, we held a rally and candlelight vigil in Bergamo Square in downtown Greenville to mark the end of three years of war in Iraq, and the start of a fourth. 2,318 candles, each bearing the name and age of a dead soldier, were lit. The ongoing civilian toll of the war, while not a significant political consideration, was nonetheless recognized by a single candle, our organization lacking both the names of all the civilian dead and the resources to make and place a candle for each. The Greenville News, TheBeat, and Channels 4 and 21 covered the event. Approximately 200 people participated, a 300% increase over the previous event, Soldier 2000. Further details may be found at www.greenvilleantiwarsociety.com.
Our next event, still in the planning stages, is a PeaceOut in Reedy River Park, to be held on a Saturday this spring or summer. We are still drawing the details together, but if you can find time in your schedules to come speak to us about the war, and why it should continue, we would certainly welcome your presence. Additionally, if your circumstances permit, you are of course invited to speak at the Iraq War Year 4 Rally/Vigil next year. We are currently budgeting 3,000 candles for the event.
Sincerely,
The Greenville Antiwar Society
3/19
Chance of rain has dropped from 30% to 10%, but everybody needs to bring all the umbrellas they can, just in case.
And don't forget the lighter sticks.
It looks like Amy A. Duerksen, 19, will be the last named fatality for the event, she was added to the final printout a few minutes ago.
Congressman Bob Inglis March 22, 2006
Senator Lindsey Graham
Senator Jim DeMint
Re: Iraq War Year 3 Rally/Vigil
Congressman and Senators:
The Greenville Antiwar Society is sending you this notice of our Iraq War Year 3 Rally/Vigil, as part of an ongoing effort to make you sufficiently concerned about the political consequences of the Iraq war to pursue its prompt termination.
On Sunday, March 19, we held a rally and candlelight vigil in Bergamo Square in downtown Greenville to mark the end of three years of war in Iraq, and the start of a fourth. 2,318 candles, each bearing the name and age of a dead soldier, were lit. The ongoing civilian toll of the war, while not a significant political consideration, was nonetheless recognized by a single candle, our organization lacking both the names of all the civilian dead and the resources to make and place a candle for each. The Greenville News, TheBeat, and Channels 4 and 21 covered the event. Approximately 200 people participated, a 300% increase over the previous event, Soldier 2000. Further details may be found at www.greenvilleantiwarsociety.com.
Our next event, still in the planning stages, is a PeaceOut in Reedy River Park, to be held on a Saturday this spring or summer. We are still drawing the details together, but if you can find time in your schedules to come speak to us about the war, and why it should continue, we would certainly welcome your presence. Additionally, if your circumstances permit, you are of course invited to speak at the Iraq War Year 4 Rally/Vigil next year. We are currently budgeting 3,000 candles for the event.
Sincerely,
The Greenville Antiwar Society
