March 19, 2009 Commemoration of the War and Occupation of Iraq

Veterans For Peace members from San Francisco to Washington D.C. took to the streets to demonstrate against the beginning of the seventh year of occupation of Iraq. See their actions and stories below. See a collection of photogarphs at the VFP Flickr Site.

007 - Los Angeles CA


Hollywood, CA	Elliott Adams


Hollywood, CA pictures by Mike Chickey

See more Hollywoody photos [ 1 | 2 ]

091 - San Diego - CA Hugh Thompson Memorial Chapter

We were fortunate here in San Diego, to have Cindy Sheehan and Bree Walker as the featured speakers at our event. They even joined the march prior to the rally!

San Diegans March and Rally on the 6th Anniversary of the Iraq War
Sheehan and Walker Speak at Anti-war Rally in Hillcrest - Page 1
Sheehan and Walker Speak at Anti-war Rally in Hillcrest - Page2
Sheehan and Walker Speak at Anti-war Rally in Hillcrest - Page3

132 - Corvallis, OR

On March 15 at the state capitol in Salem, members of all four Oregon VFP chapters joined hundreds of Oregon peace and justice activists from over 50 groups at a rally and march entitled: "Stop the Wars at Home and Abroad." Speakers included Benji Lewis, a member of VFP 132 and founder of IVAW Oregon. VFP chapters participating: 72 (Portland), 132 (Corvallis), 141 (Bandon), and 156 (Rogue Valley).

On March 19, 2009, Chapter 132, Corvallis, Oregon participated in a commemoration of the 6th year of war and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. About 50 marchers were lead by a solo drummer on a solemn procession through the university district to the center of Oregon State University. There they conducted a "die-in" to recognize loss of life in these conflicts. National vice president and VFP 132 member, Leah Bolger, is seen carrying her VFP flag and lying beside it during the "die-in."


Salem, OR


Salem, OR	Corvallis, OR

069 - San Francisco - CA


San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA

016 - District of Columbia


Michael McPhearson, Debbie Tolson, and Bill Gilson	VFP Marching, Ann Wright, Mike Ferner, and Michael McPhearson


Iraq Veterans Against the War	Police presence at Washington DC Rally

065 - Wyoming

For six years, Laramie's Stand up! For Peace, in a joint effort with Veterans for Peace Chapter 65, Wyoming, has been holding a Sunday evening vigil on the steps of the county courthouse. This peace presence has been held to remind our community there is an alternative to violence and war, that peace is possible.

To commemorate 6 years of occupation, six community members stood, one for each year of the US involvement in the current phase of the war on Iraq. Also displayed was a listing of lives lost to the war. The name board's creator, Lesley Wischmann, says she "Started it on one panel thinking it would be a short project. It now is over 16 panels long." The names listed include those lost in country and those lost later to the hidden wounds of war.

The thought of another winter at the courthouse isn't pleasant but there is no intention of quitting. "Another year here is nothing like a year over there. When I joined the Army during Vietnam," says nancy Sindelar, now military retired, "and saw the effects of that war on my generation, I said 'No more'. The violence continues for another generation, after fighting them over there, it has come home, we fight it here. Iraqistan is no different."

Mostly the public response was positive, many drivers honked, waved and flashed the peace sign.

152 - Lehigh Valley PA, Tom Paine Chapter

Thirteen members of The Thomas Paine Chapter 152 VFP joined with the Lehigh Valley Coalition for a PEACE RALLY at the Federal Building in Allentown, PA, March 19th 2009


Allentown, PA - Phil Reiss	Allentown, PA - Patrick Roxberry & Victor Madeson

136 - Central FL

On the 6th anniversary of the Iraq invasion, St. Augustine People for Peace and Justice and Central Florida Veterans For Peace Chapter 136 sponsored a candlelight vigil in La Plaza de la Constitucion in St. Augustine. A black "Memorial Wall" bearing the names of the 4915 "official" U.S. Military deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan lined the inner wall of the Plaza's gazebo. There was a flag-draped coffin and a flag flew at half mast. A group of about 30 people, including veterans of the conflicts in Vietnam, Panama and Grenada joined in reading the names of the 226 military deaths from Florida. A bugler then played taps and a moment of silence was observed. Food Not Bombs provided dinner.

Hear an interview with VFP member, Phil Restino

St. Augustine, FL Candlelight Vigil to mark the 6th Anniversary of the Iraq War - 03/19/09

Daytona Beach, FL Antiwar Rally to mark the 6th Anniversary of the US Invasion of Iraq - 03/19/09

The ceremony was held to mourn not only the loss of military members but also the deaths of over a million Iraqis, an unknown and uncounted number of Afghanis and all who have been the victims of war.

On this night we paused to mourn. Tomorrow we rejoin the struggle to bring an end to the use of military force as a tool of international diplomacy. see more>