Pro-Troops, anti-war demonstrators rally in Lafayette

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | March 8, 2007 | Chronicle Staff Report

[mdittmar]

Pro-Troops and anti-war demonstrators both were out at a hillside memorial today in the East Bay suburb of Lafayette.

The group Move America Forward staged the demonstration to kick off the "These Colors Don't Run" tour that will be part of a caravan to Washington to join the "Gathering of Eagles" pro-troop rally on March 17. The hillside crosses were put up by opponents of the Iraq war to commemorate U.S. forces who have lost their lives there.

[concentric circles]

Under a giant american flag placed there by pro-war protesters, a lone pro-war protester views the crosses and anti-war protesters on a hill in Lafayette. Chronicle photo by Mark Costantini

Pro-war protester Bryan Welden waves a flag at passers by at rally at the crosses on a Lafayette hillside. Chronicle photo by Mark Costantini

A supporter of the U.S. war in Iraq holds a sign in support of U.S. troops during a rally Thursday in Lafayette. Demonstrators in support of the war in Iraq gathered beneath a hillside where anti-war activists have planted hundreds of crosses to represent soldiers killed in Iraq. The caravan of demonstrators, which began Thursday in San Francisco, is heading across the country to Washington. Associated Press photo by Noah Berger

[XR7]

The caravan of demonstrators, which began Thursday in San Francisco, is heading across the country to Washington.

Woo-hoo!

[Drango]

Wow they went all out reporting this....

[exit82]

I'm mixing two things here, and am not trying to take away from either.

But the number of white crosses on that field is about 75% of the number of babies that were aborted in America......today.

Interesting that the right uses a field of white crosses to demonstrate the amount of babies aborted in a day, and the left uses white crosses to demonstrate the number of soldiers killed in four years. Yet the left ignores the babies, but cries about the soldiers(as if they really cared).

Complete disconnect.

[Sister_T]

The hillside crosses were put up by opponents of the Iraq war to commemorate U.S. forces who have lost their lives there.

Give me a break. These moonbats don't give a rat's rear-end about the troops. Never have, never will. They would spit on a soldier, sailor, airman or marine if they saw one. They liken our troops to war criminals while they believe the terrorists are "freedom fighters" yet they "commemorate" the troops who died in Iraq? Yeah, right!

[Carry_Okie]

The only time these people would be caught dead with a cross is when they're spitting on what defends them from religious tyranny.

My bet is that if the crosses were there for any other cause the ACLU would be there to sue.

[cakid]

They're moving through Fresno Ca.
Good sized group.
The local CBS TV station is doing a story on them tonight at 11..

[flagbrigade]

The 'pro war' crowd numbered 200 to 300 persons. The anti- war group was never more than 30 people. Looking at the pictures you would never know the discrepancy in numbers. The Lafayette stop for MAF and the Lafayette Flag Brigade was HUGE! We took the hill back! The Lafayette Shamorial organizers were shamed and silenced by the turnout thanks to some very passionate patriots. To MAF, LET'S ROLL!

[freema]

Must read at least the first 10 posts.....

[KSoldier]

You are absolutely correct, All of us over here in Iraq know who our REAL supporters are.

Thanks to all of you, it makes a difference!

MAJ KS

[rocksblues]

The hillside crosses were put up by opponents of the Iraq war to commemorate mock U.S. forces who have lost their lives there.

There fixed it.

[InfantryMarine]

USMC BUMP!

[Sister_T]

You're in Iraq?! Well, then ....

THANK YOU! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!

[Sister_T]

Hey, thanks for the correction.

[AliVeritas]

Amen.

[La Enchiladita]

KSoldier, big HUG atcha!!! Saying a prayer, too...

[scratcher]

Amen!

[Mr.Unique]

What the heck is a "pro-war protester?"

[scratcher]

Thank you for you service!

These morons against our military are nothing more than dried up hippies.  They drank too much and ingested a lot of LSD and mushrooms while pregnant with their offspring.  The long term defect of these actions is liberalism ........Normal thinking individuals support you and your efforts to make this world a safer place.  I thank GOD that we have you brave men and women protecting us from the cowards that would kill us in our sleep if given the chance.

[jazusamo]

BUMP! for our military.

[Marine_Uncle]

Thanks for the ping.

[HardStarboard]

Major: rest assured that a majority of Americans know that what you and your troops are doing in Iraq is protecting, and expanding, the essence of American Freedom.

God speed....to Victory.

[4integrity]

God bless and protect you and your fellow soldiers!
And, please know there are millions of Americans who appreciate, respect and thank you for all you do to help keep the rest of us safe! The media won't report it....but, know we're here!

[AliVeritas]

I bet the anti-war protestors said a special personal prayer for each one lost as they planted the crosses. s/

Who knew they were so close to Christ? ms/

Funny how they kick religion out (as in Mt. Soledad, chaplins, schools, displays, you name it), only to run and plant crosses to exploit Christ as well as the dead.

[girlangler]

Thank you for your service. Tell all the others there America supports them and their mission. We appreciate your sacrifices.

My husband has been very ill, but has improved, and insists on being in D.C. March 17, as will I and a grandaughter from N.C. A friend in Georgia will likely join us.

We also postponed a fishing trip. This is too important for our country to not be there to support you and all our troops. I have let my cut and run congressman know that for every communist-funded professional protestor like Cindy Sheehan, there are a million of us. Now we must show him and all of Congress we will hold them accountable if they fail to support our troops.

[4integrity]

Did they plant crosses on public land? Gee, have they heard from the ACLU? Religious symbols on public land is a no-no.......sarcasm on.

[KSoldier]

Religious symbols are allowed by the ACLU when they are exploited for anti-American causes.

I wouldn't be surprised if that were actually in their guidelines.

[4integrity]

'Wouldn't be surprised if that were actually in their guidelines.'

I'm reading Bill O'Reilly's book, Culture Warrior. He talks about the founder of the ACLU and what his objectives were......wow. Very scary. Wants a One World Order......and, if we keep up this politically correct stuff, we may just get there. God help us.

You, stay safe! Prayers are with you.

[MEG33]

WOO HOO..Wonderful.

[MEG33]

Indeed!

[Drango]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/16/BAGJ4OMR8C15.DTL

More than 200 names to be removed from Iraq memorial in Lafayette

Jason B. Johnson, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, March 16, 2007


(03-16) 17:46 PDT LAFAYETTE -- The names of more than 200 dead U.S. soldiers will be removed from an Iraq War memorial in Lafayette this weekend, organizers said today.

But one angry Tracy man who found his step-son's name on a white wooden cross last week said he and others still plan to protest at the site.

The names of all but about a dozen soldiers will be removed on Sunday, unless a soldier's family gives permission for it to remain. About 300 names of troops from California now grace the 3,188 white wooden crosses that make up the hillside memorial. The decision comes as anti-war activists prepare for a candlelight vigil on Monday to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the war.

"We didn't intend to cause any grief to the families of soldiers that died," said organizer Jeff Heaton. "So when we saw how agitated they were, we (decided) we don't want to turn the memorial into a battleground."

The name plaques have drawn criticism on the Internet and conservative radio shows from people who say it's offensive. On March 8, several dozen supporters of the war and the troops fighting it gathered to confront its organizers, and Scott Conover of Tracy, whose step-son Brandon died in Iraq in January 2006, said he was surprised to find his son's name.

Conover welcomed the decision to remove the names, but he and others will continue with a previous plan to return to the site Monday to make sure the names of several soldiers are removed. He said he's talked to 10 other families who don't want their loved ones' names on crosses.

"We're going to be out there to support the troops," said Conover.

"The upsetting part is when we saw our son's name up there," said Conover. "He was very patriotic. This was his second tour in Iraq. He was not for the anti-war movement, that's for sure."

Conover said he doesn't think the display honors the troops and feels its builders "shouldn't be using the dead soldiers to voice their opposition" to the war.

Heaton has repeatedly said the site is a memorial to the soldiers as well as a powerful critique of the Bush administration's war policy.

"We'd had an online discussion of it (last month), and about two-thirds of people wanted to take the names down," Heaton said. "On the one hand, we wanted to defend our right of free speech. But we know there were other concerns."

[mdittmar]

"We didn't intend to cause any grief to the families of soldiers that died," said organizer Jeff Heaton. "So when we saw how agitated they were, we (decided) we don't want to turn the memorial into a battleground."

Jeffrey Heaton, war protestor: "I feel it's a symbolic act, like I'm digging a grave. So digging each cross becomes a spiritual experience."

This is not the first occasion that Jeffrey has put a memorial up on that hillside. The first, shortly after the war began, when less than 20 American soldiers had died. That memorial did not last the night.

Jeffrey Heaton: "I'm saying that they realize that this war is devastating. And they don't want to be reminded of that and so it stirs up all these very angry emotions."

[concentric circles]

I know of one more name that can be removed and I'm sure there are hundreds more. Anyone who can't see that using the blood of dead warriors to boost a political cause is immoral has been blinded by their prejudices.

[Drango]

If you (or anyone else) are not local, I'll gladly remove a cross for you. Of course I'll need conformation and contact information from the family. Due diligence. FReepmail me if I can help.