{news} Danbury & Redding vigils organized by Greens

[David Bedell]

http://news.newstimeslive.com/story.php?id=76081

Peace activists plan candlelight vigil to honor those who died in Iraq
By John Pirro

THE NEWS-TIMES

DANBURY — Activists will hold a candlelight vigil at the city's War Memorial 
tonight to protest the war in Iraq and honor the servicemen and women who 
have died fighting it.

The vigil is one in a series of nationwide demonstrations marking the 
2,000th American death in the war, a threshold passed earlier this week.

"Two thousand is just a number. We don't want to see one more casualty," 
said Walter Hrozenchik of Ridgefield. "We want our boys and girls home 
safe."

Earlier this weeks, similar rallies were held in more than 1,350 communities 
across the country, according to MoveOn.org, which helped organize the 
events. An estimated 100,000 people attended.

The Danbury vigil will start at 5:45 p.m. at the memorial, situated at South 
Street and Memorial Drive, and last until 7 p.m.

"It will be a solemn, candlelight memorial," Hrozenchik said.

The vigil will be the third in the greater Danbury area in three days. 
Similar demonstrations were held on the green in Redding and in front of the 
Danbury Public Library Wednesday evening.

About 30 people were at the event in Redding, said Nancy Burton. "We linked 
arms both to stay warm and to keep the wind from blowing out our candles, 
and read the names of the 29 casualties from Connecticut," she said.

There was a long moment of silence, and then participants took turns 
speaking out against the war, Burton said.

Kathy Devlin of Brookfield said 16 people attended the library vigil "on 
very short notice," adding that passers-by showed their support in a variety 
of ways.

"There was no negative reaction. We got a lot of thumbs-up and peace signs," 
she said.

Contact John Pirro at jpirro@ newstimes.com or at (203) 731-3342.