"War Is Not The Answer"
say Veterans For Peace
northern Wisconsin peace group stages "Arlington North" peace demonstration
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Two soldiers represent different perspectives on the Iraq War because one has fought in Iraq and the other has not. Ashland Veterans for Peace sponsored an Arlington North display. Arlington North refers to the cemetery in Washington DC honoring the war dead. The Arlington North display in Ashland showed white crosses, representing almost two thousand American and more than twenty five thousand Iraqi killed since March 2003, when the second Iraq War started. Nick Vander Puy from the Superior Broadcast Network talks with two soldiers. |
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Two soldiers represent different perspectives on the Iraq War because one has fought in Iraq and the other has not.
A few weeks ago in Ashland Veterans for Peace sponsored an Arlington North display. Arlington North refers to the cemetery in Washington DC honoring the war dead. The Arlington North display in Ashland showed white crosses, representing almost two thousand American and more than twenty five thousand Iraqi killed since March 2003, when the second Iraq War started. Nick Vander Puy from the Superior Broadcast Network talks with two soldiers.
John Tate stands in front of Arlington North. He wears a gray Army National Guard windbreaker. Tate is looking at the names of forty three Wisconsin men and women killed since the second Iraq War started.
“I know a couple of them on there. I just wanted to come down. I drove by, saw it in the paper, and I thought I’d come down and see how many we’ve had to add since last time I looked at the list.”
Sergeant Tate serves with a local National Guard unit. He was called to active duty last year, but was injured during training at Ft. Mc Coy. So he didn’t have to go to Iraq and face combat. He supports our troops.
“They’re my brothers and sisters in arms and I’ll back’em up a hundred percent and my sympathy goes out to them a hundred percent, what I have with my own family. My name could just as well be on that list. But I’m not. So my sympathy goes out to the families.”
Sergeant Tate says that “freedom isn’t free.”
“They’re doing what they’re doing, you’re know, for our freedom over in the US. You know, we all signed that piece of paper, we do what Uncle Sam tells us to do.”
Sergeant Tate says that the role of a warrior is to protect and serve.
“If I had to go right now I would go. I’d be honored to do it. You know a lot of people don’t support this war but I tell the people support the troops. You don’t support this war then that’s fine ,but support your fellow Americans who are serving over there that are giving their lives.”
There’s a skinny guy looking at the white cross markers. He’s wearing a black shirt with a yellow dragon on it.
His name is Liam Mc Kinney. He’s done a tour in Iraq, serving as an Army ranger.
Mc Kinney talks about his mission.
“What I’m allowed to speak of. Find insurgents, bring’em out if possible, get rid of em, if not. That’s about all I’m allowed to say.”
“What was that work like?
Very mentally demanding. Very physically demanding. Difficult to deal with. I still have nightmares to this day about some of it.
Stuff you never forget. You really just never forget about it.”
Mc Kinney talks about how he deals with the pain, when he puts his arm around his gal.
“Getting married. I just try to get on with my life. It hurts. I remember it. But there’s nothing I can do about that. So I just deal with each day as it comes to me. Some days are harder than most. But we can deal with it. Just move on with your life. Biggest thing for me is just to never forget. Always remember the people who have given their lives. The people who are probably going to. Remember perhaps what they’re fighting for isn’t a complete load of bull. Maybe it’s something worth fighting for, but I don’t know. Just keep the memory alive. Don’t let’em be forgotten.”
I’m Nick Vander Puy for the Superior Broadcast Network
For more information about northern peace work visit:
Web Design by Sandy Lyon
Photos by Bart Vander Puy