Iraq war dead remembered in vigil
By ALDRICH TAN/Enterprise correspondent, October 1, 2004

Two hundred people solemnly reflected on the loss of American and Iraqi lives in Iraq at a silent candlelight vigil Thursday evening at the E Street Plaza in downtown Davis.

"Whether you are for or against the war, it is important to honor those who sacrificed their lives," said organizer Stacy Goldenberg, a mother and artist who lives in West Davis.

The vigil is one of hundreds occurring nationwide organized by MoveOn.org members. According to the Web site, more that 1,000 American military personnel and countless Iraqi civilians have been killed in the war and its aftermath.

Among the dead is 24-year-old Army Spc. Casey Austin Sheehan of Vacaville, who was killed April 4 while driving a Humvee during a rescue mission near Sadr City, Iraq. His mother Cindy attended the vigil and carried a picture of her son around her neck along with the words "1,000 Dead."

Sheehan said she was unable to organize a vigil in Vacaville because she was leaving today for Fort Hood, Texas, to attend an honor ceremony for her son.

"I think it is really amazing that the Davis community has taken the time to commemorate my son and others who have died in this war," Sheehan said. "We need to do everything we can to end the war and bring the children home."

A UC Davis political science student who recently enlisted in the Army also attended the vigil.

"I'm scared of becoming a statistic," he said as he looked at the number 1,000 on one of the MoveOn.org posters. "I know plenty of people in the military who actually don't want to go to Iraq."

The student declined to give his name, saying he was told by his recruiter that he cannot publicly criticize the military.

Dave McAsey, a Davis therapist, happened upon the vigil as he stopped to buy an ice cream cone at Baskin-Robbins. A Vietnam veteran, McAsey said he was wounded in Danang in 1966.

"I personally understand why we are over there," he said. "As long as we're alive, we need to do what we can to protect our country and this vigil honors those who sacrificed their lives to do so."

While vigil participants stood silently on the plaza, lighted by the glow of their candles, 1950s pop music played in the background. Some vigil participants objected to the distraction, but employees at Baskin-Robbins said they were unable to turn the music off. Only their manager had a key to the sound system, they said.

"I see where the attendees are coming from and I support them," Baskin-Robbins employee Nick Rhodes said.

Goldenberg apologized for not notifying adjacent businesses in advance, but said the music didn't pose much of a problem.

"People were very pensive and definitely focused on their own thoughts," she said.

At the end of the event, many attendees embraced Sheehan and expressed sympathy. Among those were a young woman and her child. After greeting the child, Sheehan embraced his mother.

"Protect your son," she told the young woman.

Long after the vigil ended, UC Davis linguistics professor Almerindo Ojeda cupped his hands around his white candle to keep his small flame burning.

"I want to keep hope alive for as long as possible," he said.