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41 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, January 19, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 12, 2004 Women in Black, veterans and other supporters stand in silent vigil on Vogel Plaza in Medford Thursday to honor veterans and oppose the war in Iraq. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Protesters stand silent against war By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Side by side they stood, shadows stretching across the brick pavement of Vogel Plaza. An elderly couple holding American flags, a young woman with a pierced lip and a banner reading "War is Terrorism," an elegant woman with snow white hair and a long black coat, a teenage boy in a black sweatsuit, men in military garb of their younger days. Nearly 70 people gathered at Medford’s downtown plaza Thursday afternoon in a peace vigil to honor veterans. "Why I’m here today is because I’m for strong armed forces, but I’m not for their misuse," said Don Morris, an Ashland man who wore a garrison cap from his Army days in Vietnam. He served as an enlisted man and an officer in a forward artillery unit starting in 1966. Now he wants to see an end to a war in Iraq that he thinks was a mistake from the beginning and has been plagued by leadership blunders. Advertisement "I feel Bush as our commander in chief has misused our forces," Morris said. "That offends me to the core," he said, visibly trembling in the autumn light slanting across the plaza. "Today I’m mourning our veterans who have been killed or maimed and I’m praying for those still over there," he continued until emotion choked his voice and he turned away. Morris was one of an estimated 30 veterans rallied by Dan Davis, an Army veteran who lives on the Little Applegate, to join a peace vigil with the Women in Black. The local silent peace advocates have been meeting regularly since early 2003 to protest the war in Iraq. But the international group’s history reaches back through sectarian violence in Ireland to a founding in Israel in 1988. Debbie Herzog of Trail organized Thursday’s vigil. "I try to stand with the Women in Black as often as I can," she said, noting that her remote home and busy work schedule sometimes make it hard. She had Veterans Day off and thought it would be a good time to reflect on war and peace. "I didn’t want it to be negative, but I was worried that people would misconstrue our intent," Herzog said. "We appreciate everything our troops have done to protect our chance to do something like this." At the plaza, she stood near the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue and held a hand-lettered sign that said "Honor Veterans, Support the Troops, End the War." Others held bumper stickers that said "Honor Veterans: Wage Peace" and wore "Peace now" buttons. One woman held up a sign with the names of soldiers from Oregon who have died in Iraq. Another held a red, fallen leaf. Some clasped their hands in prayer, while others reached out to grasp a neighbor’s hand. They all stood silent for half an hour, while traffic streamed by. Some drivers passed seemingly oblivious to the gathering. Others glared, or even honked or turned up car stereos as if to drown out the silence. One man stopped in the middle of Central Avenue to shout "Pacifism doesn’t work. Sorry," while others yelled more biting criticism. "I think these women are brave," said Davis, who has participated in peace rallies since war in Iraq was contemplated last year. "It’s not easy to just stand here." Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers