| Peace Train
CAMP CASEY PEACE VIGIL TESTIMONY
BETWEEN THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT
AND THE WHITE HOUSE, SEPTEMBER 23, 2005
·
This is an authentic gathering of those touched by war:
Viet vets, Gold Star Families, and Iraq War Veterans.
·
We have just completed 26 days at Crawford, at Camp Casey.
I was there 22 of those days. What a long, strange trip it’s been.
We left on three buses, and had over 200 events in 58 cities
and 26 states in 21 days.
Tamara
·
All we need to do is to ask: to be fed, hugged, healed.
At Camp Casey, you learned to ask for what you needed.
And in return, when you hear a need, be there.
We look forward to marching with you this weekend.
Lisa
·
I’m from Military Families Speak Out. My son’s in his third tour.
500 days and counting. I believe he’s ok because I haven’t heard otherwise.
I don’t want to be a member of the Private Club—the Gold Star Mothers.
My son says, when you speak out, tell the people we don’t believe in the war.
A year ago, my son and I stood at the Viet Nam Wall together.
He said, I wonder how many names will be on our wall?
[Interference comes from a car’s music with an external speaker system.]
·
When my son was killed, he left a pregnant wife behind. I’ll tell you what faith is.
Faith is what kept that baby in the womb.
And yesterday I ran into Joe Lieberman. I told him,
What makes your life more important? This is it, he told me.
I called Joe Lieberman a liar.
Let’s impeach the liars.
Mr. Lieberman, we are becoming your hurricane.
--Daniel’s mother
·
I didn’t plan to speak tonight, but Joan Baez asked me to speak
until she could get here.
·
My son was my American Dream.
·
My son was the first soldier to die from the State of Georgia.
Patricia Roberts
·
I don’t know who came back, but it wasn’t my son, not the one that went over there.
[This is the testimony in front of the Washington Monument Candlelight Vigil,
as recorded in the pockbook blue line. jb]
I am Mexican-American.
I live in California.
The Mexico of the United States.
Bush is not the owner of your son.
Bush is the number one terrorist in the world.
·
I’ve been on the Northern Tour and I’ve told my son’s story over 100 times.
Families die forever when a son dies.
Congressmen don’t understand that.
·
On behalf of my son, I’d like to talk about him.
He came home looking good, not like the others.
A year later we found him hanging from a rope.
·
Congress really supports the war.
Congress doesn’t support the troops.
·
My cousin was a patriot all his life.
He died when his chopper went down.
[The people raise their candles between speakers. Someone says,
Not one more death. Not one more life for oil.]
·
I’m here tonight so that you’ll hear the name of my son.
That’s the only way I’ll hear it.
·
The President said yesterday that we are wrong.
Tonight he has left the city.
[The people sing Amazing Grace led by Joan Baez.]
·
We’re not at the Capitol now.
We’re at the scene of a crime.
Tonight is a solemn occasion.
Tomorrow we’re going to take
our case to the criminals.
Now we’re going to the Viet Nam Memorial.
We’re going to ask that after the American Flag, the Viet Nam era veterans,
the ones from the last war, lead, and then the Gold Star families
·
Testimony recorded by Jim Bodeen
Washington, DC
September 23, 2005
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