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Vigil held to honor troops killed in Iraq
> More stories, photos on area service members who have died in the war
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
DAYTON — One by one, the names of the nearly 4,000 U.S. troops who have died in Iraq were read aloud on the fifth anniversary of the war.
David Wood, 73, of Beavercreek was among 20 people who volunteered to read the names, ranks, ages and hometowns of the fallen during a solemn 10-hour vigil at Mack Memorial Church of the Brethren on Wednesday, March 19.
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"People need to hear them," Wood said. "When you read the names and see how long it takes, the magnitude begins to get to you."
The event was sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee and Military Families Speak Out, which are against the war.
The sanctuary was dimly lit by 4,000 white Christmas lights on strands that lined an aisle beside 40 pairs of military boots. Each pair represented 100 of the nearly 4,000 troops killed.
Seeing that display triggered strong emotions and tears in Teresa Lowen, 37, of Beavercreek.
She supported the U.S. going into Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks but said she views Iraq as an "unjustified war."
Lowen bristled at how people who "care about peace" are often mislabeled as unpatriotic by those who strongly support the war. She wishes some of those critics could have attended Wednesday's vigil.
"This is patriotic. We're honoring those who died," she said.
Ohio has lost 173 servicemen in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thirty-three had ties to the Miami Valley.
