There is something special about a day like today. You really feel the spirit moving you and giving you strength. It’s invigorating and you feel like you’ve been filled with something much larger than you.
We had a wonderful send off in the Rochester Anti-War Crisis Center with volunteers buzzing with energy, taking care of last minute details. Channel 10, WXXI and the Democrat & Chronicle (article) were present for the press conference and everyones spirits were high. Representatives from Iraq Veterans Against The War, Military Families Speak Out, Veterans For Peace and the Rochester Declaration Of Peace gave inspired opening words to the event followed by a blessing from a local minister.
About 25 Walkers headed out from the Storefront on Monroe to 12 Corners Brighton and after a chilly lunch in Ellison Park continued on to Ontario, NY. People along the route showed a lot of curiosity about the marchers and many came to greet us along the way. Motorists that pulled over were greeted with beaming smiles and information about the program featuring two wonderful speakers, one a Veteran of the Afghanistan War and IVAW member, the other a sister of FOUR servicemen and member of MFSO.
The walkers arrived at the Root Cellar around 5:30 and felt the exhaustion of the walk wash away amidst the cheers from those gathered there to welcome them. The hospitality given by the employees was far beyond anyones imagination. But we’ll return to that later.
Close to 30 people packed into the cafe’ for the evenings presentation. Denique (Forgive the Mispelling. Will Correct) gave a heart wrenching account of her service in Afghanistan, her battle with PTSD and the difficulty getting treatment. After going through all the official channels to declare herself a consciences objector while deployed in Afghanistan one story, of the many, of hardships to follow weight heavy on my heart. After getting CO status she was required to carry a rifle with her at all times without ammunition. My immediate thoughts were, this would make her an official “hostile” target when she had painstakingly declared that she wasn’t.
Jessica Diaz spoke emotionally about her four brothers and their military service. She joined MFSO after seeing the absolute frustration and pain her parents suffered, caused by the constant deployment of one of her brothers under the banner of the “War of Terror”. She spoke of the hardship of military families, how constant deployment doesn’t allow for service people to build a life or sustain current relationships, especially hard with children are involved. She also spoke passionatily about her anger that congress approved a watering down of the deployment rules (that require a certain amount of time between deployments and govern the maximum length of any given deployment) and shared her belief that the continued funding of the war hasn’t translated into new and better equipment for soldiers.
On a closing note, let us go back to the Root Cellar. My deepest gratitude to the wonderful staff there, but in particular Judi who made us all feel so comfortable and gave so much of her knowledge, time and heart. She dispensed pre-natal advise, supplied us with the weapons to ward off black flies (oh boy, can’t wait!) and at 11 pm was helping me deal with grapefruit sized blisters on my feet. Tomorrows mission: New Socks!
SM Sessler
2 responses so far ↓
1 Sarah Woodard // May 9, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I am looking forward to greeting you and walking with you as you approach Wolcott. Thank you for marching for PEACE!
2 Mike Connelly // May 10, 2008 at 11:13 am
Thanks so much for this, Sean. LOVED, the photos. First I’d seen and they are just wonderful. m
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