Published: March 21, 2008 09:17 am         

No More War

By Libby Cluett
lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com

Honoring loved ones and fellow citizens serving in the military was one goal of Wednesday’s “New Priorities Vigil,” which marked the fifth anniversary of the invasion in Iraq.

Sponsored by the political action committee MoveOn.org, there were an estimated 888 candlelight vigils convening throughout the nation, including the parking lot of Don Marcos restaurant in Mineral Wells.

According to Amy Ringo Lane, MoveOn.org member and volunteer leader of Wednesday’s event, the vigil was organized to honor those who died, thank those returning home and “plea to leaders to begin the end of the war and bring our troops home.”

Close to three dozen citizens from Palo Pinto and Parker counties – including veterans, parents of youth serving in Iraq, political leaders and candidates – turned out to hear Roger Waun speak. Waun is the Democratic candidate for Texas District 13 congressional seat, opposing Republican incumbent Mac Thornberry.

“Tonight we meet to honor our brave men and women who have sacrificed on behalf of our country for the past five years,” he told those present.

“Veteran and patriot” Waun said the vigil is to help “mourn the loss of nearly 4,000 who will never return to their families,” honor more than 19,000 who “suffered life-changing permanent injuries in Iraq” and “honor the 160,000 brave American troops who are still serving.”

“While we honor the sacrifices of our armed services members and their families, above all else, we also wish to pledge our support for those troops whenever they return home,” he added.

He said one day’s expenses in Iraq – $720 million – could pay for: “four-year college scholarships for 34,904 students … provide health care for 423,000 children … pay for 12,400 additional elementary school teachers … [and] provide over 1.27 million existing homes with renewable solar energy panels.”

He concluded his speech by pledging to “work tirelessly to end the war” as well as work many other priorities, such as education, health care, housing, veterans and senior citizens’ concerns.

Before sunset, participants holding candles gathered in small circles to read out loud 18 stories from veterans and military families. By the end of the readings, many participants shed tears and the overall mood seemed more somber.

After a moment of silence, Lane asked all present to come together to hear the song, “Heaven (Candlelight Mix),” a version of DJ Sammy’s 2002 remix of Bryan Adam’s song “Heaven.” The music consists a soft piano accompanying vocalist Do, mixed with a little girl’s spoken message to her father who presumably died in the 9-11 tragedy.

Tears welled as participants ranging from high school students to a World War II veteran heard the combination of words and song.

Cierra Rodriguez thought it was “really sad.”

Her brother Stephen, a 2007 Mineral Wells High School graduate, will leave to begin military service in April. When asked his thoughts after the vigil, he said, “I thought of what it’s going to be like when I come back, or if I do.”

He said that he and his peers perceive military service as providing them with “a better future” and “better jobs when we come back. I’m doing this because I want to better my future for a job here.”

Rodriguez is planning to be part of the military police, and said he hopes to serve as a police officer when he returns.

“I didn’t know it was that bad, people coming home with post trauma,” he said after hearing the stories read during the vigil. He added that he “didn’t know how much money was being spent on Iraq. More should be spent on schools here and on kids to better their future than on Iraq.”

According to his father, Precinct 5 Constable Luis Rodriguez, “[Stephen] will go into the Army, give five years of [his] life and this country will be there for him when he gets back.”

While his father said he is proud of his son, he also acknowledged he is fearful for the teenager and said, “It hits closer to home when one of your own goes.”

During the evening, Waun told those present, “a lot of kids over there were in the eighth grade when this thing started. We don’t want our eighth graders [today] going over there.”