RIP Chad Drake
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.
Dear Friend,Late yesterday, our country passed a terrible milestone: the death toll of US troops in Iraq reached 1000. This comes on top of at least 10,000 Iraqi deaths, and over 7,000 American wounded, in our bloodiest war since Vietnam. The number of Iraqi wounded is unknown.
We cannot let this milestone pass without a statement of grief for our lost brothers and sisters in the human family, and a solemn message to our country that we must not stay this terrible course. We have 24 hours to organize candlelight vigils across the country for 8PM, tomorrow (Thursday) night, to send our message to the nation before this milestone is forgotten. Click below to use a simple internet tool to organize or attend a vigil in your area or faith community:
www.faithfulamerica.org/vigils.htm
As people of faith, we are called to guide our nation on a wise course that cherishes all life, and abhors the unjust use of force. Click below to gather in your community on Thursday night, pray for the victims of this war and their families, and help guide our nation onto a wiser path.
www.faithfulamerica.org/vigils.htm
Blessings,
The FaithfulAmerica.org Team
Copy and paste the link, hit "go", and watch where it takes you.
Thanks to your son for his service! and the seatbelt nice and tight for the run to the election. :)
They would dig up the bodies of the dead and drag them down the street to show their "respect".
When leftie lunatics push, push back harder.
I just sent them an ugly e-mail.
Most of the people who are highlighting the 1000th death are doing so for political reasons. Is the 1000th death any less honorable than the 999th? or the 1015th?
They are freaking ghouls and should be scorned.
Or as the anti-war crowd calls it, "supporting the troops" and "being patriotic".
I was waxing nostalgic for the old days...(early 70s)...when hardhats whupped yippies for sport
"Dallas Peace Center" - more of America's domestic enemies. Their Day shall come.
RIP Chad Drake
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.
Right. It was a call for action. Their people would show up in force. Everyone else knows it would be an antiwar demonstration. They need to call Dallas Peace Center what it really is- Dallas Communist Center.
So, it's starting again... de ju vu. This time, the Vietnam Vets and their families and supporters of our troops WILL BE HEARD. NEVER AGAIN.
Another, in a long line of episodes brought to you by the PARTY OF TOLERANCE.
THE democRATS
We finally silenced hate filled, anti Bush, anti war rhetoric from a "friend". We told him that Kerry was obviously a great choice for him. Period! No more contact. He's now sending us funnies that put the RATS down.
no personal offence.. people need to discard diseased family members. for real. ppl who maintain evil friends and/or family are like the nations that harbor terrorists.
Thanks for the address. The wires sizzled when I pressed send!
Well last time there were only 8,500 VVAW members, and 10's of 1,000's of veterans, and because they stayed home these 8,500 VVAW members changed the course of our country.
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