Candlelight vigils held at 8:00 P.M. tonight

[DaveSZ]

Dear MoveOn member,

With the tragic news that more than 1,000 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq, we're all feeling for their families and loved ones. We're also seeing an incredible outpouring of resolve to take a few minutes tonight to remember and reflect on their lost lives.

Candlelight vigils are happening everywhere at 8:00 P.M. tonight. Find one near you, sign up to come, and get materials at:

http://action.moveon.org/vigil/

In less than 24 hours, more than 900 vigils have been organized, with more than 15,000 people signed up to participate nationwide. Several national organizations, including the National Council of Churches, True Majority and Working Assets, are working together through the Win Without War coalition to make this possible.

Our determination to publicly recognize their deaths stands in stark contrast to the Bush administration's response -- or lack thereof. Bush has refused even to comment personally on the fact that more than 1,000 of our brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, moms, dads, sons, and daughters have been killed in his war of choice.

He's also failed to attend a single funeral.

And yesterday, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called the death toll "relatively small." It sends a frightening signal that they seem to anticipate a great many more American deaths in Iraq. A year and four months since President Bush declared "Mission Accomplished", 865 soldiers have died, and still he has no exit strategy.

It's up to us, evidently, to show the Bush administration what it means to support our troops.

Come to a vigil tonight. Sign up at:

http://action.moveon.org/vigil/

Or, consider setting up a new vigil of your own. We're not far short of 1,000 vigils:

http://action.moveon.org/vigil/newmeeting.html

Thanks for all you do.
--Carrie, Joan, Lee, Marika, Noah, Peter, and Wes
The MoveOn.org Team
September 9th, 2004

P.S.: The New York Times has posted an incredibly moving gallery of photographs of the American soldiers killed in Iraq. Spending a few minutes looking at their pictures really brings home the magnitude of our loss.

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/national/20040909_THOUSAND_GRAPHIC/index_PICTURES.html

[nosmokes]

1. over 200 people in Eugene, Oregon.

it was great, very respectful and dignified. i had printed up the placards from the MoveOn site:

1000 DEAD
QUAQMIRE
HOW MANY MORE
NO END IN SIGHT

and i made up some more:

MOMS
DADS
SONS
DAUGHTERS
12,798 IRAQI CIVILIAN DEAD

the DU media blaster was huge help, i was able to get emails out to some the local radio and TV stations last night with an impromptu press release. the media blaster is one valuable tool, thanks!