ARLINGTON The fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq will be marked with candlelight vigils across the United States, with one in Arlington and another in Marysville, set for the evening of March 19.
Organizers have announced the vigils will honor the fallen, in communities across the United States, on the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
The Marysvile will be at Comeford Park at State Avenue and Fifth Street, beginning at 6:15 p.m. on March 19.
The vigil in Arlington starts at 7 p.m. at Mirkwoods Shire Cafe in the old Methodist-Episcopal Church on the north end of North Olympic Avenue, at 117 E. Division Street, in historic downtown Arlington.
Organized by MoveOn.org, the Arlington vigil is hosted by Heather Beck, owner of Mirkwood.
We plan to send a clear message on this sinking economy, said organizers from MoveOn.org.
Its time to end the war and start using the billions wasted every week on the Iraq occupation to help folks here at home, organizers said.
The local host, Heather Beck said that this will be the second vigil she has hosted at Mirkwood.
We did our first vigil last year on the anniversary of the invasion, Beck said.
Obviously, I am very anti-war, Beck said. We will be outside with candles, to let the community know that there are other folks who want to spread the word of peace and change.
Beck said she is an active member of MoveOn.org and they started holding vigils when it was proclaimed that John Kerry was not a war hero. She said MoveOn is supporting Barack Obama, who represents the change they want to see in the country.
She agrees with MoveOn.org that the last five years in Iraq have been devastating, with tens of thousands of American troops and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed or injured. And that the $3 trillion spent on the war so far is desperately needed in our communities.
MoveOn members include veterans and military family members who have sent in dozens of stories to be read at the vigils.
The purpose of the vigils is to elevate the voices of the veterans to send a strong message that Americans demand a swift end to this war.
Vigils are planned at several locations in the the area:
Marysville, at Comeford Park at State Avenue and Fifth Street, starting at 6:15 p.m. March 19
Merrill Creek Parkway Southwest in Everett at
7 p.m.
Skagit Valley Food Co-op in downtown Mount Vernon, 6:30 p.m.
Bayview Park and Ride in Clinton, 6 p.m.
For information check out the Web site at http://pol.moveon.org/event.