As Iraq War Ends, So Does Years-Long Local Vigil to Protest It

Every Monday for the last eight years, North Hills residents have held a peace vigil to protest the war in Iraq along Babcock Boulevard on the grounds of Divine Providence in McCandless.

With the war ending, Monday night marked the last time that and the would come together to sponsor the vigils.

North Hills Patch was on hand to speak with some of those who have held vigil to show their opposition throughout the Iraq war.

Among the thoughts shared with us:

• Mary Sheehan
• Resident of McCandless
• Held weekly vigil here for the last eight years
• “The Iraq war just seemed so senseless and really brought up the whole issue of war all over again. We went through Vietnam and didn’t learn, and here we are again. It’s a sense of relief that it’s finally over, but it’s very sad at the same time—all of the loss over the years, all of our troops that were killed and the more than 100,000 Iraqi civilians that were killed. It’s sad."

• Sister Leticia
• Sister of the Divine Providence in McCandless
• Held weekly vigil here for the last three years
• “I always pray for peace but also for justice. Sometimes wars are necessary but I don’t think it’s a way to solve problems in the World. We need to dialogue and talk, find other ways.”

• Jack Sheehan
• Resident of McCandless
• Held weekly vigil here for the last eight years
• Vietnam Veteran
• “We got into that when we shouldn’t have. This is step one, we still have a long way to go . . . [To the American troops] I would say thank you. Thank you. They put up with a lot and made a lot of sacrifices. I hope people remember that.”

• Joseph Moffitt
• Resident of North Hills
• Held weekly vigil here for the last eight years
• “I saw no sense in the wars . . . there is still too much militarism in this country and in the world.”

• Janet Brink
• Resident of North Hills
• Held weekly vigil here for the last year
• “This war never should have started . . . Why should people be dying? I know they are defending something they believe in, but is that the only way to do what we need to do? We are intelligent enough to find alternative ways to solving conflict.”