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Indybay Feature
Anonymous vet ends his walk for peace
Thursday morning was the final day of the Veteran's Walk for Peace at the State Capitol. It marked the final lap of the approximately 3,500 U.S. troops remembered for their deaths, and to protest the war. Thousands of Iraqi civilians who also have been killed were also remembered in the walk that began Memorial Day.
The heat didn't stop him from walking for 10 days straight since Memorial Day. Neither did the limp in one of his legs. Not even harassment from the CHP stopped the unidentified vet, who made headlines locally for his march around the California State Capitol in honor of fallen U.S. troops and Iraqi casualties.
The goal: to walk around the capitol building once for every U.S. service person killed in Iraq. Each lap after lap, day after day, more supporters came as time went on, many of who left the scene in tears after they read the cards.
After a week of walking, the vet and his supporters completed reading the names of known Iraqis killed during the war. Many of these contained only a name, gender, and sometimes an age, based on limited available information. Each of the Iraqi names walked statistically represented at least 200 unknown casualties.
“This war is killing real people who had hopes, dreams, families - they are not just numbers or headstones,” he vet said.
The vet asked his supporters to think about all the pain and suffering each individual went through was their life was taken from them and the emotional anguish that his or her parents or children went through when they received the news of their loved one’s passing.
“And then say to yourself, ‘Not one more.’ You have the ability to save the lives of many people with the decisions you make today. Never give up the fight for peace and never stop demanding an end to this war,” he said.
Co-coordinator of Sacramento Code Pink Heather Woodford said in her email to the club that she felt torn between wanting this dynamic action to continue, and looking forward to the time that our country will run out of fallen soldiers to honor.
Through out the many days of walking, his supporters threw peace signs in the face of security cameras at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, located across from where the vet’s table was based (at the corner of L and 12th Streets).
But not all was peachy keen as goes with acts of dissent, especially if it’s against the war in Iraq. And even more so if on one of the days the vet was wearing a shirt that said “Iraq Veterans Against the War” while the capitol grounds were host to Air Force recruiters.
The vet said that the CHP prohibited him from continuing on his normal path, which was just around the capitol building itself. They made him “go a longer way around,” which added about three to four extra minutes to each lap.
“The shirt brought attention to myself and I needed a permit to do something like that. I was told there was a fine line between freedom of speech and demonstration that needed permits. I’m just walking. I don’t see other people stopped. If I was wearing another t-shirt it wouldn’t have been a problem.”
On Thursday morning, heightened “security” – CHP officers on horseback – followed the vet on his last lap. When he got to the west side of the capitol, where he for days on end read the names, one of the officers said he couldn’t stop there to read the last name. Ironically, members of the peace community said that days ago he tried to get a permit, but they wouldn’t issue him one.
“There is hope every time our rights are violated and every time they attempt to obstruct our demonstrations, for we know they are getting nervous about our growing numbers and it is just a matter of time before we become so large that change is inevitable,” he said in his speech at Thursday’s press conference.
Interesting more people were around during the press conferences than at any other time. Some, who had walked with the vet during the less busy days, said they were disgraced by the way some in the peace movement just wanted media attention and wanted to control the outcome of the march.
Local photographer Francisco Dominguez walked 85 laps with the vet. He said: “The time has come for people to leave their egos at home if they want to be part of this peace movement. Ego-maniacs have caused too many disruptions and divisions. It’s time to come together for the betterment of the planet.”
The vet fought as a U.S. soldier in An Nasyria, Iraq, where he was called to collect the body of another fallen soldier. Upon arrival, he was met by a translator who informed him that local civilians had buried the body to keep dogs from getting the remains. The leader of his group began radioing for permission to abort the assignment.
"I could not believe this. In the ground right next to us was a soldier who had paid the ultimate price for following orders and now we were going to abandon him and leave his body to rest in an unmarked, foreign grave." he said.
"Almost every day, a soldier is killed in Iraq," he said. "Some of their bodies are brought home, while others are not. It is so easy for our society to see those who have fallen simply as numbers because a number is much easier to push to the back of your mind than a face or a name."
The goal: to walk around the capitol building once for every U.S. service person killed in Iraq. Each lap after lap, day after day, more supporters came as time went on, many of who left the scene in tears after they read the cards.
After a week of walking, the vet and his supporters completed reading the names of known Iraqis killed during the war. Many of these contained only a name, gender, and sometimes an age, based on limited available information. Each of the Iraqi names walked statistically represented at least 200 unknown casualties.
“This war is killing real people who had hopes, dreams, families - they are not just numbers or headstones,” he vet said.
The vet asked his supporters to think about all the pain and suffering each individual went through was their life was taken from them and the emotional anguish that his or her parents or children went through when they received the news of their loved one’s passing.
“And then say to yourself, ‘Not one more.’ You have the ability to save the lives of many people with the decisions you make today. Never give up the fight for peace and never stop demanding an end to this war,” he said.
Co-coordinator of Sacramento Code Pink Heather Woodford said in her email to the club that she felt torn between wanting this dynamic action to continue, and looking forward to the time that our country will run out of fallen soldiers to honor.
Through out the many days of walking, his supporters threw peace signs in the face of security cameras at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, located across from where the vet’s table was based (at the corner of L and 12th Streets).
But not all was peachy keen as goes with acts of dissent, especially if it’s against the war in Iraq. And even more so if on one of the days the vet was wearing a shirt that said “Iraq Veterans Against the War” while the capitol grounds were host to Air Force recruiters.
The vet said that the CHP prohibited him from continuing on his normal path, which was just around the capitol building itself. They made him “go a longer way around,” which added about three to four extra minutes to each lap.
“The shirt brought attention to myself and I needed a permit to do something like that. I was told there was a fine line between freedom of speech and demonstration that needed permits. I’m just walking. I don’t see other people stopped. If I was wearing another t-shirt it wouldn’t have been a problem.”
On Thursday morning, heightened “security” – CHP officers on horseback – followed the vet on his last lap. When he got to the west side of the capitol, where he for days on end read the names, one of the officers said he couldn’t stop there to read the last name. Ironically, members of the peace community said that days ago he tried to get a permit, but they wouldn’t issue him one.
“There is hope every time our rights are violated and every time they attempt to obstruct our demonstrations, for we know they are getting nervous about our growing numbers and it is just a matter of time before we become so large that change is inevitable,” he said in his speech at Thursday’s press conference.
Interesting more people were around during the press conferences than at any other time. Some, who had walked with the vet during the less busy days, said they were disgraced by the way some in the peace movement just wanted media attention and wanted to control the outcome of the march.
Local photographer Francisco Dominguez walked 85 laps with the vet. He said: “The time has come for people to leave their egos at home if they want to be part of this peace movement. Ego-maniacs have caused too many disruptions and divisions. It’s time to come together for the betterment of the planet.”
The vet fought as a U.S. soldier in An Nasyria, Iraq, where he was called to collect the body of another fallen soldier. Upon arrival, he was met by a translator who informed him that local civilians had buried the body to keep dogs from getting the remains. The leader of his group began radioing for permission to abort the assignment.
"I could not believe this. In the ground right next to us was a soldier who had paid the ultimate price for following orders and now we were going to abandon him and leave his body to rest in an unmarked, foreign grave." he said.
"Almost every day, a soldier is killed in Iraq," he said. "Some of their bodies are brought home, while others are not. It is so easy for our society to see those who have fallen simply as numbers because a number is much easier to push to the back of your mind than a face or a name."
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Eleven days ago, a small group of individuals met on the northern steps of the capitol building and began the mission of walking around the capitol one time for every U.S. soldier killed in Iraq, as well as one time for every 200 Iraqi citizens killed as a result of this war. Over the past week and a half, this event has transformed into a community project, involving hundreds of people who have come out to show their support for ending the war and bringing our troops home. Together, as a community, we have walked over 3,000 miles to remember those who have fallen and to make our demands clear that this war and the negligent, destructive ways of this administration must be stopped. Today, we have walked the final lap for the soldier most recently killed in Iraq, thus completing our goal. Unfortunately, as long as our nation occupies Iraq, denying her people their sovereignty, soldiers and Iraqis swill continue to die and our walk will never be completed. For this reason, we must press on, for this event was just a small stepping stone in the long pathway leading to peace. Always remember at times when it may feel like you are trudging uphill who it is that you fight for. Never forget the names of the soldiers and Iraqis that you held in your hand and brought to life by this walk. Never forget that each name you read had a family, that each name you read was a life so full of potential, that was so tragically and prematurely brought to an abrupt end because of this war. Never forget that what you fight for is righteous and just and must eventually conquer the evil that drives this war.
Sometimes it may feel like there is no end in sight, that this war is an out-of-control fire that continues to rage on and ferociously consume lives no matter how hard we try to extinguish it. It is so easy to be discouraged when our voices are continually ignored by the leaders we elected to represent us. It is so easy to be discouraged when an unnecessary war carries into its fifth year and our leaders talk not about ending it but about invading other countries. But there is hope when a community can pull together for a common cause and voluntarily complete a difficult yet memorable task. There is hope when our soldiers refuse to fight despite the consequences and generals threaten to revolt if these troop surges persist. There is hope when children willingly join the peace movement and even more hope when they comprehend the mistakes our generation’s leaders are making . There is hope every time our rights are violated and every time they attempt to obstruct our demonstrations, for we know they are getting nervous about our growing numbers and it is just a matter of time before we become so large that change is inevitable. There is hope, because we hold the majority of Americans on our side: it is only a matter of mobilizing them into active members of the peace movement. I urge you that when you leave here today, you reflect on those whose lives have been lost in this war. Think about all the pain and suffering each individual went through was their life was taken from them and the emotional anguish that his or her parents or children went through when they received the news of their loved one’s passing And then say to yourself, “Not one more.” You have the ability to save the lives of many people with the decisions you make today. Never give up the fight for peace and never stop e demanding an end to this war.
-the anonymous vet
Sometimes it may feel like there is no end in sight, that this war is an out-of-control fire that continues to rage on and ferociously consume lives no matter how hard we try to extinguish it. It is so easy to be discouraged when our voices are continually ignored by the leaders we elected to represent us. It is so easy to be discouraged when an unnecessary war carries into its fifth year and our leaders talk not about ending it but about invading other countries. But there is hope when a community can pull together for a common cause and voluntarily complete a difficult yet memorable task. There is hope when our soldiers refuse to fight despite the consequences and generals threaten to revolt if these troop surges persist. There is hope when children willingly join the peace movement and even more hope when they comprehend the mistakes our generation’s leaders are making . There is hope every time our rights are violated and every time they attempt to obstruct our demonstrations, for we know they are getting nervous about our growing numbers and it is just a matter of time before we become so large that change is inevitable. There is hope, because we hold the majority of Americans on our side: it is only a matter of mobilizing them into active members of the peace movement. I urge you that when you leave here today, you reflect on those whose lives have been lost in this war. Think about all the pain and suffering each individual went through was their life was taken from them and the emotional anguish that his or her parents or children went through when they received the news of their loved one’s passing And then say to yourself, “Not one more.” You have the ability to save the lives of many people with the decisions you make today. Never give up the fight for peace and never stop e demanding an end to this war.
-the anonymous vet
I had the priviledge of meeting the young veteran who created "Walk Around the Capitol" when I walked laps with fellow supporters of the peace movement. After getting to know
The Anonymous Veteran, I was immediately struck by his humility and his determination NOT to draw attention to himself personally, and his devotion to keeping the focus on ending the suffering of our soldiers still in Iraq, Afghanistan - and the unfathomable pain of civilian Iraqui people.
He is phenomenally articulate and his gentility and compassion for the suffering of others are impressive.
Clearly, this heroic effort lasting 11 days - from 6:00 am until 10:00 pm daily - was not about "the cult of the personality" and getting "15 Minutes of Fame" for this fine young man who chose to remain ANONYMOUS - the event was 100% focused on speaking truth to power - holding our government ACCOUNTABLE and very ordinary American citizens were actively engaged in defense of liberty, freedom and democracy.
95% of Americans are hungry for the spotlight of instant fame. Our collective, societal aim is to be an instant "Infotainment Celebrity" on trash reality televsion. Most Americans seem to obsess about becoming a TV celebrity hogging the spotlight. The Unamed Veteran absolutely eschewed publicity for himself, and kept the issue clearly on ending the war.
As a former Veterans Administration employee who used to work at the Sacramento V.A. clinic at Stockton/Broadway (post-Gulf War Era) I worked at the old Sacramento V.A. medical clinic before it was moved to Mather Base. I witnessed first hand the utter derision and contempt our government treats wounded and disabled veterans with "Service Connected Disabilities." I have worked at all levels of government; county, city, state and federal. Never have I ever seen such HOSTILITY towards the target population a government agency feel towards the very people they are mandated to HELP than Veterans Administration.
I think this is due to the "psychology of war" and what war does to people. The V.A. is an agency which turns upon its own clients in a
self-destructive manner.
Veterans Administration would rather spend $10,000 in administrative time/legal fees fighting an honorably discharged veteran - than give that veteran $1.00 of assistance. Less than 20% of veterans are able to use the G.I. Bill. Although many highly devoted, fine public servants employed by the V.A. tirelessly strive to help vets - the "Corporate Culture" of the V.A. is open derision, contempt and hostility towards it's clients. This ethos comes from the very highest levels of V.A. adminstrators and filters down through every department permetaing the organization with an appalling
bone-chilling combative attitude towards veterans.
When I worked for Sacramento Veterans Administration
post-Gulf War Era we were still working on the SAME BUDGET our clinic had during the Vietnam War Era! This is despite the Sacramento V.A. was among the highest "patient load" clinics in the entire country. Back in the 1990's there was an egregious lack of funding for V.A. clinics - and Bush has savaged the V.A. budget with horrendous funding cuts.
It is a miracle the Anonymous Veteran managed to survive the Iraq War Holocaust and come home alive. This young man - at considerable personal sacrifice to his own personal life - took time off from work for 11 days to perform "Walk Around the Capitol" from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. Supporting a young child and wife on a low wage - juggling college with full time employment and fatherhood/marriage , he selflessly made sacrifices to honor our dead American soliders - now at the 3,500 mortality rate - and well over 650,000 civilian Iraqui's who died in the war. Two million refugees have fled the country in terror - 3,000 refugees leave Iraq weekly.
Iraq, Afghanistan and Gaza/Palestine are clearly a HOLOCAUST, yet the war drones on with NO exit plan in sight - largely thanks to DEMOCRAT LEGISLATORS who pushed through Bush's "Surge" legislation to keep the war going indefinitely. It is 90% of Democrat politicians who refuse to bring IMPEACHMENT against the Bush Crime Regime.
When will this madness end?
When the 76% of Americans who say they are against the war and want it to end - get off their morbidly obese fanny, quit watching trash reality TV and get politically active DEMANDING an end to the war and impeachment. 33% of Americans are morbidly
obese - walking some laps around the capitol would be therapuetic and revitalize our apathetic citizenry!
IMHO - we need to return to the roots of the Vietnam Peace Era and Civil Rights Movement tactics used in the 1950's and 1960's with MASSIVE nationwide CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE shutting down every single Federal Building, County, State and Federal Courthouse in the country. When 100,000 citizens sit down cross legged in the parking lot of the Pentagon and commit MASSIVE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE refusing to budge - then and only then will we end this obscene, illegal and genocidal war and get IMPEACHMENT.
Wake up America - are we a nation of amnesiacs? Are we in a societal, collective coma as somnabulists?
Remember the Spirit of 1776 and defend the Republic!
Democracy is in peril and the very foundations of our fledgling Republic of a scant 231 years is in peril.
God Bless America and let us truly BECOME the "land of the free and the home of the brave."
Keep Hope Alive,
Colleen Whalen
14th Generation American (In 1740 - my Celtic ancestors emigrated to Maryland Colonies) 90% of both sides of my family are honorably discharged veterans who served our nation in millitary service)
The Anonymous Veteran, I was immediately struck by his humility and his determination NOT to draw attention to himself personally, and his devotion to keeping the focus on ending the suffering of our soldiers still in Iraq, Afghanistan - and the unfathomable pain of civilian Iraqui people.
He is phenomenally articulate and his gentility and compassion for the suffering of others are impressive.
Clearly, this heroic effort lasting 11 days - from 6:00 am until 10:00 pm daily - was not about "the cult of the personality" and getting "15 Minutes of Fame" for this fine young man who chose to remain ANONYMOUS - the event was 100% focused on speaking truth to power - holding our government ACCOUNTABLE and very ordinary American citizens were actively engaged in defense of liberty, freedom and democracy.
95% of Americans are hungry for the spotlight of instant fame. Our collective, societal aim is to be an instant "Infotainment Celebrity" on trash reality televsion. Most Americans seem to obsess about becoming a TV celebrity hogging the spotlight. The Unamed Veteran absolutely eschewed publicity for himself, and kept the issue clearly on ending the war.
As a former Veterans Administration employee who used to work at the Sacramento V.A. clinic at Stockton/Broadway (post-Gulf War Era) I worked at the old Sacramento V.A. medical clinic before it was moved to Mather Base. I witnessed first hand the utter derision and contempt our government treats wounded and disabled veterans with "Service Connected Disabilities." I have worked at all levels of government; county, city, state and federal. Never have I ever seen such HOSTILITY towards the target population a government agency feel towards the very people they are mandated to HELP than Veterans Administration.
I think this is due to the "psychology of war" and what war does to people. The V.A. is an agency which turns upon its own clients in a
self-destructive manner.
Veterans Administration would rather spend $10,000 in administrative time/legal fees fighting an honorably discharged veteran - than give that veteran $1.00 of assistance. Less than 20% of veterans are able to use the G.I. Bill. Although many highly devoted, fine public servants employed by the V.A. tirelessly strive to help vets - the "Corporate Culture" of the V.A. is open derision, contempt and hostility towards it's clients. This ethos comes from the very highest levels of V.A. adminstrators and filters down through every department permetaing the organization with an appalling
bone-chilling combative attitude towards veterans.
When I worked for Sacramento Veterans Administration
post-Gulf War Era we were still working on the SAME BUDGET our clinic had during the Vietnam War Era! This is despite the Sacramento V.A. was among the highest "patient load" clinics in the entire country. Back in the 1990's there was an egregious lack of funding for V.A. clinics - and Bush has savaged the V.A. budget with horrendous funding cuts.
It is a miracle the Anonymous Veteran managed to survive the Iraq War Holocaust and come home alive. This young man - at considerable personal sacrifice to his own personal life - took time off from work for 11 days to perform "Walk Around the Capitol" from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. Supporting a young child and wife on a low wage - juggling college with full time employment and fatherhood/marriage , he selflessly made sacrifices to honor our dead American soliders - now at the 3,500 mortality rate - and well over 650,000 civilian Iraqui's who died in the war. Two million refugees have fled the country in terror - 3,000 refugees leave Iraq weekly.
Iraq, Afghanistan and Gaza/Palestine are clearly a HOLOCAUST, yet the war drones on with NO exit plan in sight - largely thanks to DEMOCRAT LEGISLATORS who pushed through Bush's "Surge" legislation to keep the war going indefinitely. It is 90% of Democrat politicians who refuse to bring IMPEACHMENT against the Bush Crime Regime.
When will this madness end?
When the 76% of Americans who say they are against the war and want it to end - get off their morbidly obese fanny, quit watching trash reality TV and get politically active DEMANDING an end to the war and impeachment. 33% of Americans are morbidly
obese - walking some laps around the capitol would be therapuetic and revitalize our apathetic citizenry!
IMHO - we need to return to the roots of the Vietnam Peace Era and Civil Rights Movement tactics used in the 1950's and 1960's with MASSIVE nationwide CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE shutting down every single Federal Building, County, State and Federal Courthouse in the country. When 100,000 citizens sit down cross legged in the parking lot of the Pentagon and commit MASSIVE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE refusing to budge - then and only then will we end this obscene, illegal and genocidal war and get IMPEACHMENT.
Wake up America - are we a nation of amnesiacs? Are we in a societal, collective coma as somnabulists?
Remember the Spirit of 1776 and defend the Republic!
Democracy is in peril and the very foundations of our fledgling Republic of a scant 231 years is in peril.
God Bless America and let us truly BECOME the "land of the free and the home of the brave."
Keep Hope Alive,
Colleen Whalen
14th Generation American (In 1740 - my Celtic ancestors emigrated to Maryland Colonies) 90% of both sides of my family are honorably discharged veterans who served our nation in millitary service)
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