by Larry Dudley [courtesy of Blog for America]

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.