Democracy For Greater Glens Falls Reads Names Of The Lost

Written by: Larry Dudley on Mar 20, 2008 11:35 PM EDT

Wednesday, March 19th, was the fifth anniversary of the United States' invasion of Iraq and Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area held yet another vigil for peace and to bring our troops home in City Park in downtown Glens Falls, NY.

One thing was different this time: members read all of the names of the American dead aloud-- almost 4,000, starting with those from New York and Vermont, which were read first, by themselves. Other members held candles. The effect was sobering and very powerful and all present were clearly moved, some to tears. It took almost 45 minutes, even with the names of those lost in each year of the war being read simultaneously in a form of counter point.

We were particularly privileged to have Frank Grassia (at right), who taught Pfc. Nathan Brown Social Studies at South High. Frank read Nathan Brown's name along with those of the fallen from New York and Vermont.

Brown was killed on Easter Sunday in 2004 in an attack that made national headlines due to what were widely regarded as scandalous circumstances, and provoked brief Congressional investigations. Contrary to Army policy, which specified patrols in armored vehicles, Brown and his unit were ordered out in unarmored trucks. The one in which Brown was riding was normally used for garbage collection and was loaded with trash when Brown was hit by an RPG (they had to make room in the trash to get in). He was killed instantly. Other team members of the NYANG were severely wounded.

Local Moveon Co-organizer Kate Austin reads.

We were also grateful for the news coverage by the Post Star, WNYT-13 and TV-8, both of which did major news reports. The WNYT report lead coverage for the entire Capital District region of NY, a media market with about a million people. The Post-Star coverage, which topped the cover of the local section, can be read at: Post-Star: Local Vigils Mark Fifth Anniversary

DFA Member Kathy Sonnabend reads dates of major Iraqi loss of life.

Despite the cold and rainy weather, everyone stayed until the end and the playing of taps.

All photos courtesy Dick Dudley.

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