Spring Break
The Daily OrangeIraq war vigil on M-Street one of 1,100 across nation
By Kyle Adams
Posted: 3/19/07, 11:38 PM EST Section: News
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The event, which lasted from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., was one of more than 1,100 registered nationwide with Moveon.org, a group of liberal political action organizations, according to Austin Ted Paulnack, Syracuse coordinator of Moveon.org.
"This vigil is aimed at giving people the opportunity to drop by and sign a petition to Jim Walsh," he said. The petition requested that Congressman Walsh take action to end the war and bring U.S. troops home.
Behind Paulnack, a sign announced that 3,234 U.S. soldiers have so far been killed. Paulnack held similar vigils for soldier No's. 1,000 and 2,000 killed in the war, as well as attending about 15 other rallies and events.
"It's a horrific memorial," he said. "This is the fourth year of a horrific war and there is no end to it."
He lamented that the Syracuse Peace Council did not choose to participate in the vigil on Marshall Street, opting instead to hold a rally in Clinton Square Monday evening.
Carol Baum, of the SPC, said the group chose Clinton Square because it enabled them to march to the federal building and because the larger area could accommodate a crowd of several hundred.
But because of the weather, Baum said she was not sure how many people would attend the rally.
On Marshall Street, the snow began coming down at about 1 p.m. Sierra Desalvia, 18, stood on the concrete terraces across from Augie's Pizza with a homemade "We support our troops" T-shirt. Her younger sister, 13-year-old Jessica Desalvia, held a sign announcing the Iraqi death toll: more than 128,000.
"There's such a lack of action and I think that's a shame," Desalvia said. "It's been going on far too long."
She said she planned to attend the national rally in Washington D.C., near Goucher College in Baltimore, where she is a freshman peace studies and dance major, but was home in Syracuse for Spring Break.
Desalvia was informed of the vigil by e-mails from Moveon.org and Paulnack. There are about 100 people in the Syracuse area on that mailing list, Paulnack said, as well as media outlets.
When the Desalvia sisters left about 2 p.m., Paulnack, Roger Cunningham and their American flag were the remaining fixtures of the vigil.
Cunningham, 52, served 20 years active duty in the Coast Guard, and in the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs as a civilian.
"When I see our troops put in this position, I get really angry," Cunningham said. "I think the way to support our troops right now is to bring them home - to speak out against this war."
The snow was picking up and starting to melt on the petitions, soaking them.
Cunningham looked at the sky and the wet flakes, "I just hope it doesn't turn to rain."
The pigeons would scatter and return, but passersby walked on as the snow fell harder on the vigil. At about 4:45 p.m., after Cunningham had gone, Paulnack looked at his watch and looked at the signs and petitions.
"I think I'm gonna pack up," he said.
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