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Vigil comes in time for start of war By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings A peaceful candlelight vigil coincided accidentally with the start of war. Approximately 150 peace supporters gathered in the Ashland Plaza Wednesday night to continue promoting messages of peace. As candleholders lined Main Street, President Bush declared war on Iraq. The vigil was one of many recent anti-war rallies held throughout the Rogue Valley. Ten-year-olds Neil Presicci (hand only) and Talen Heater form peace symbols while protesting Wednesday night in a Plaza vigil. Ashland Daily Tidings/DENISE BARATTA According to Tim Bousquet, office manager of Peace House, the rally was planned before it was known the war would begin. "We called it yesterday because after Sunday night's vigil there was a feeling on the large part that it was the right thing to do," Bousquet said, noting he wanted to have another time and place for people to gather and express their opposition to the war. A peace vigil attendant, referring to herself as "anonymous peace keeper," said "Well, I certainly wanted to be at a place of peace when World War III starts." The vigil began around 7 p.m., dwindling in numbers by 8:30 p.m. No police were present. Ashland High School freshmen Juliana Wheeler, Caitlin Maddigan and Whitney Chatfield were on the Plaza leading protesters in song. "We've sung together since fifth grade and it's one of our ways of expressing things," Chatfield said. All three expressed deep sorrow for the people in Iraq - especially the children. "Knowing that 51 percent of Iraq people are children I'm just grateful for what I have here," Chatfield said. "All that I can do is just feel that sorrow and pain for what they're going through. But also I feel thankful for what I have." Fourth grade Briscoe Elementary student Talen Heater was also concerned over the loss the Iraqi people will suffer. "The war's starting tonight and we're thinking about all the people who are dying at this instant," Heater said. Heater, who has attended several peace rallies, said he feels the Bush administration should spend more U.S. dollars protecting America's educational system - not oil interests. "We shouldn't be using those huge cars, those SUVs, those Hummers. We're just using way too much oil," he said. Robert Carrol and his family attended the peace vigil for a lesson. "The whole event that's taking place is unspeakable and also plainly obvious in terms of humanity being poised for self-destruction," Carrol said. "I just wanted my children to have the awareness of the possibilities of peace because without it, there's no future and it's all too apparent how close we are to destroying this wonderful planet." Wednesday's night vigil will likely serve as a precursor to a larger rally that was to be held in the Plaza at noon today. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -