Posted on 09/09/2004 6:38:26 PM PDT by freedumb2003
DALLAS -- A candlelight vigil took place Wednesday night to remember U.S. war dead in Iraq during the week of the 1,000th casualty. One North Texas family, whose relative -- Chad Drake -- was killed outside Baghdad Monday, was among the mourners at Dallas City Hall Plaza.
The vigil, though, turned abrasive toward the family members, according to a family friend. The friend sent an e-mail message to NBC 5 News that described the treatment some vigil attendees directed at the family.
Drake's mother was "harassed and yelled at, booed and hissed, told her son died for nothing," the message read.
Drake's mother reportedly left the event in tears.
The family attended the vigil because they thought it was meant to honor U.S. casualties. The event was organized by the Dallas Peace Center, which opposes the war.
The Drake family was upset about the antiwar tenor of the assembled crowd. The director of the Dallas Peace Center said the event was not intended to be an antiwar rally, but said e-mail notifications of the vigil were sent to a broad audience. Because the venue is a public place, he said, a variety of people with various views on the war in Iraq attended.
He also said the event was planned to include political overtones, but the Drake family should have been informed.
The center, however, did issue an apology to the Drake family.
"I want to be clear in issuing an apology to the mother of the recent victim of that war," Lon Burnam, of the Dallas Peace Center, said. "I can certainly understand why she would not feel comfortable in that particular venue with that particular group of people."
Peace Center officials said they believe the Drake family left before the scheduled events started, and the family might not have seen the planned ceremony.
Drake's sister told NBC 5 News that the family thought some of the crowd was hostile, so the family departed the vigil.
These people are useless scum. I hereby commit myself to matching and superior confrontation whenever I see this kind of behavior. They need a collective citizen's b-slapping.
Sounds like they studied Kerry's book.
disgusting.
"John Kerry... please pick up the white courtesy phone..."
Is Lon Burnam the same as the rep in the Texas Legislature?
admin@dallaspeacecenter.org
Let them know what you think.
The Sixties/Seventies spirit rises up once again.
And once again John Kerry is on the scene leading the way in exploiting it for his own gain, to the harm of innocent patriots.
God's grace on those who mourn.
Regardless of whether you are against the war or not, to do this to the family is just pure evil.
SHEESH!
"I want to be clear in issuing an apology to the mother of the recent victim of that war," Lon Burnam, of the Dallas Peace Center, said. "I can certainly understand why she would not feel comfortable in that particular venue with that particular group of people."
So can I.
"In my presence, this will not go unanswered."
Same here, and I'm just your typical little old lady in tennis shoes. I will not stand by and see this happen again.
My profound sympathies to the deceased hero's family.
Screw them. I can't believe the despicable actions of this group. A mopther is grieving, and they taunt. That is just despicable, these pukes are subhuman.
It's only going to get worse the closer we get to the election. I called my brother to tell him I'd gotten a call from my son who's deployed on WestPac. He responded by spewing anti-war rhetoric at me, then e-mailed me anti-war propaganda. Fasten your seatbelts kids. We're in for a rough ride.
They could not claim any baby killing occured, because John Kerry had not testified in front of Congress that it had occured... thats the sticky wicket with socialist they won't repeat a mantra until a leader says it. :)
This from the "inclusive" party...such actions are unwarranted, unneeded, so way out of line...inexcusible!!
These people just don't get it...they never have and they never will...The FREEDOM's that they enjoy are theirs because of the sacrfices of those who have defended freedom.
Yeah, sure.
Dallas Peace Center
4301 Bryan St. Suite 202
Dallas TX 75204-8147
Tel 214-823-7793
Fax 214-823-8356
E-mails (found here):
Director: Lon Burnam
Assistant Director: Valley Reed
It was an antiwar event to highlight that 1,000 have been killed in Iraq. This group is probley a left-wing front group of some type.
most construction workers = union scum or union scum wannabes.
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