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Peace demonstrators march at Jones Beach air showBY KEITH HERBERT |
keith.herbert@newsday.com - 9:43 PM EDT, May 23, 2009
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Pax Christi Long Island, the Catholic peace
movement, mourns the deaths of almost 5,000 American service men and women, and at least 150,000 Iraqi and Afghani civilians
who have died as a result of the wars. At Jones Beach Parking Lot #2. (Photo
by Jack Dwyer / May 23, 2009) About 50 demonstrators from various Long Island peace groups marched, prayed and called out the names of troops killed during
the war in Iraq Saturday at the Jones Beach air show.
The participants said Memorial Day weekend wasn't the time
for an air show that prominently featured military aircraft.
"Memorial Day is a day to honor those who have
fallen in the war," said Northport resident Charlotte Koons, 75, a member of Code Pink Long Island, which created ribbons
bearing the names of U.S. servicemen and servicewomen killed in Iraq. "It is not a time to glorify the military."
Demonstrators lined the entrance to Parking Field 2 and joined in prayer before the march began. Then, as a bagpiper
played, they walked along the boardwalk, stopping periodically to read aloud the names of fallen soldiers. Ed Ciaccio 60,
a former high school teacher in Syosset, said the air show's timing was "not appropriate."
"Many
of us know the real purpose of those planes is . . . weapons of mass destruction," he said.
Leading the coalition
of groups was Pax Christi Long Island, a Catholic peace group. Others participating included Veterans for Peace, Long Island
Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives and Great South Bay Forum.
The groups have demonstrated at the air show in previous
years, but this year held significance because of the new administration in Washington and President Barack Obama's campaign pledge to end the war in Iraq, said Mary Beth Moore, 61, of Wantagh,
of Pax Christi Long Island.
"We want him to follow through on his promise," Moore said.
Memorial commemoration jones beach saturday, may 23, 2008 10 am, field 2
A Time to Remember
The American people dedicated Memorial Day as a time to mourn the victims of
war. In that spirit, Pax Christi Long Island invites you to gather with us at Jones Beach on Saturday, May 23, for
a recitation of the names of those killed in the iraq war.
join us at the western end of jones beach at Parking
Field 2 at 10 am, as we proceed along the boardwalk and commemorate those killed in iraq: over 4000 american soldiers and SEVERAL thousand innocent Iraqi civilians.
ALL PEACELOVING PEOPLE ARE welcome
TO PARTICIPATE IN this solemn memorial procession.
Previous Sponsors: ( in formation) Pax Christi Long Island, PC Long Beach Island Chapter,
LI Alternatives for Peaceful Initiatives, Great South Bay Forum, OLMMC Peace & Justice ( Pt. Lookout), OLMMC PPEN ( Wayandanch), Ethical
Humanist Action Committee EHS, LI Veterans for Peace, St. Anthony's Peace & Justice,
( SPONSORS
ARE REQUESTED TO HAVE 5 TO 10 REPRESENTATIVES PARTICIPATE, SPONSORS KINDLY RENEW YOUR SPONSORSHIP OF THIS YEAR'S MEMORIAL
BY CONTACTING US). Picture courtesy of Arlingtonwestfilms.org
For more information email us at peacelongbeach@optonline.net
(To request a free map of Jones Beach State Park, call 516 785 1600
or scroll down on our home page to find mapquest for directions. There may be a parking fee charged by the park officials, for alternate parking arrangements contact
us below.)
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