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Ojai event honors military killed in Iraq war
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Photos by James Glover II / Star staff Rubi Abad of Ojai looks at some of the 3,600 photos of those who have died in the Iraq war. Abad's cousin, Roberto Abad, was killed in 2004 by a mortar bomb. "It should never have happened," she said of his death.
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As she wrote the names of the dead on a sidewalk Friday, Anne Vanoni couldn't help but wonder who they were and how they died. And what of the wives and husbands, sons and daughters they left behind?
"It's natural to wonder about them," Vanoni said as she knelt with a piece of blue chalk on a sidewalk in an Ojai park, writing the names of some of the U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq.
The Ventura woman was among scores of people who went to Libbey Park on Friday to honor U.S. personnel killed in Iraq since the war started in March 2003.
The names of the dead, which organizers put at 3,988 as of Thursday, are being written on the sidewalk around a fountain at the park over the three-day period that started Friday.
Evan Austin, an organizer of the Ojai Peace Coalition event called "Not One More!," has made it a point to honor the dead every year since the first anniversary of the war.
In the beginning, Austin added one hash mark to his car for every service member killed. As the years passed, he ran out of room on his car. He decided the dead would be better remembered if their names could be written for all to see.
Dolores Bray, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in Ventura, has done the math. Bray figures there is enough room for 60 names on each of the 70-odd concrete squares around the fountain.
"All the names should fit," said Bray as she surveyed the area around the fountain.
Bray said she felt compelled to go to Ojai Friday because "I don't believe that the way to peace is through violence."
"Violence doesn't promote peace. Only peace does."
As Bray spoke, she stood next to some 3,600 color photographs of the war dead posted on a large board for all to see. "If you look at their faces and read their names, you can see they come from many different backgrounds and ages," she said.
The dead included Roberto Abad of Los Angeles. The 22-year-old Marine Corps corporal was killed in August 2004 by a mortar bomb.
Rubi Abad, 17, said her cousin's death left a terrible hole in her family, one that can never be filled. Among those Abad left behind was a young son whom he never had the chance to meet.
"It should have never happened," the Ojai teen said Friday of her cousin's death.
She hoped her presence at the park would hasten the return of other U.S. troops. "No one should have to go without a father, a mother or brother because of the loss of a loved one in this war," she said as she took a break from writing the names, including her cousin's, on the sidewalk.
Frank Peterson, a 76-year-old Korean War veteran from Ventura, spent weeks assembling the photographs of the dead, along with their names and ages. As he did, he wondered about the person staring silently from each photograph.
"It's natural to think about these people when you spend as much time with their photographs as I did," Peterson said.
With more troops being killed every month, Peterson knows his work is far from over. "It's something I need to get back to soon," he said, noting he's assembled about 3,600 photos so far and has to gather an additional 400.
Diane Pangelina of Camarillo has made it a point to remember the dead in Iraq on every anniversary of the war.
"War is something that has affected me deeply," said Pangelina, recalling how her father was killed in World War II and her husband was wounded in Vietnam.
"I'm here because it makes a difference to me. I hope it can make a difference to others, too."
The event continues from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday, and the public is invited. Flag ceremonies will be held at 9:30 a.m. today and 1:30 p.m. Sunday. It will close with a candlelight vigil from 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Posted by KatieTeague on March 15, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This event does not "honor" the brave people who were killed in Iraq. It is a publicity ploy on the backs of dead soldiers and it is shameful.
The Ojai Peace Coalition, the Veterans for Peace, the Stop Iraq Now, etc. people are domestic footsoldiers for the terriorists.
You want attention? You got it.
Posted by rebel123 on March 15, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Holy cow.....that's quite a statement. So putting a personal face on the war is aiding the enemy? I guess peace is too threatening for some.
Posted by joggla2003 on March 17, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am in complete agreement with Katie. This is not to honor the brave men and women who have given their all for this great country. This is using their names and faces to push a political point of view.
As a father of an Army Infantry solider, currently serving his second tour in Iraq, I find this type of politics as distasteful as it gets.
I believe that if you wish to use the names and faces of these honorable men and women for you cause, you need to get the permission of their families and let them know what exactly you are using it for. I guarantee most would not give permission.
I have had discussion with some that have protested the war on this very subject. One woman went as far as saying, when I asked, that she actually believed the soldiers were killing women and children intentionally and were not really honorable.
Posted by caseyp94 on March 17, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I went to this event to see what it was all about. I for one am not political in any way. As I walked up to the wall of pictures looking for my brothers face who died in Iraq in October, I couldn't believe it he was not there, as I watched my parents look for his face and sit there with question marks across their faces, I had nothing to say. We finally asked these people why they didn't have my brothers name, and they had nothing to say but here's a piece of chalk write his name on the sidewalk. As I sat there watching my dad write my brothers name on the sidewalk I looked around and realized I didn't want my brothers name a part of this. I saw people wanting signatures for some kind of political thing, and I saw a sign saying something across the line of so many thousands of soldiers killed why? My brother didn't die for no reason, my brother was out there trying to help the women and children in Iraq, he was out there doing something he felt was right. So not only did they not have his name, but they were not respecting all these soldiers who died for out country doing something they believed was right. I wish we could have a ceremony for the fallen soldiers in a more non-political way, with love and respect toward these brave men and women who are out there fighting for our rights and our freedom. This is just what I believe.
Posted by caseyp94 on March 17, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I went to this event to see what it was all about. I for one am not political in any way. As I walked up to the wall of pictures looking for my brothers face who died in Iraq in October, I couldn't believe it he was not there, as I watched my parents look for his face and sit there with question marks across their faces, I had nothing to say. We finally asked these people why they didn't have my brothers name, and they had nothing to say but here's a piece of chalk write his name on the sidewalk. As I sat there watching my dad write my brothers name on the sidewalk I looked around and realized I didn't want my brothers name a part of this. I saw people wanting signatures for some kind of political thing, and I saw a sign saying something across the line of so many thousands of soldiers killed why? My brother didn't die for no reason, my brother was out there trying to help the women and children in Iraq, he was out there doing something he felt was right. So not only did they not have his name, but they were not respecting all these soldiers who died for out country doing something they believed was right. I wish we could have a ceremony for the fallen soldiers in a more non-political way, with love and respect toward these brave men and women who are out there fighting for our rights and our freedom. This is just what I believe.
Posted by caseyp94 on March 17, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I went to this event to see what it was all about. I for one am not political in any way. As I walked up to the wall of pictures looking for my brothers face who died in Iraq in October, I couldn't believe it he was not there, as I watched my parents look for his face and sit there with question marks across their faces, I had nothing to say. We finally asked these people why they didn't have my brothers name, and they had nothing to say but here's a piece of chalk write his name on the sidewalk. As I sat there watching my dad write my brothers name on the sidewalk I looked around and realized I didn't want my brothers name a part of this. I saw people wanting signatures for some kind of political thing, and I saw a sign saying something across the line of so many thousands of soldiers killed why? My brother didn't die for no reason, my brother was out there trying to help the women and children in Iraq, he was out there doing something he felt was right. So not only did they not have his name, but they were not respecting all these soldiers who died for out country doing something they believed was right. I wish we could have a ceremony for the fallen soldiers in a more non-political way, with love and respect toward these brave men and women who are out there fighting for our rights and our freedom. This is just what I believe.
Posted by kristinppl on March 18, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't believe that anyone would think this war has been a success! There were no terrorist there until we illegally invaded. Would you volundeer your sons and daughters? By the way, were is osama? Why didnt we attack the people who attacked us? Not all war protesters are crazy hippies. Many Republicans are fed up also and a huge percent of Americans want out now!
Posted by joggla2003 on March 24, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kristi, I have read all post and did not see one that stated Iraq is a success. Although, if we are allowed to see this war through to a conclusion the possibility of a free and democratic Iraq is possible. That is something that was not the case prior to the war.
By the way, my son has spent two years over there. What have you done for this country?
Posted by kristinppl on March 25, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
joggla,
Do I need to give you a list of good things I have done for others or for the country or I'm not patriotic or I dont care about the troops or my country? I hope your son comes home alive and is not scared mentally and lives a great normal life.
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