PEACE VIGIL. Ballard resident Diane Carlton hosted a peace vigil to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq on March 19. The vigil and others like it around the nation were sponsored by www.moveon.org to protest the war. Dean Wong photo.
In a dark living room, illuminated only by candles, a group of local residents gathered for a peace vigil protesting the war in Iraq in the home of Ballard resident Diane Carlton on March 19.
Thirteen people attended the vigil. Protest signs were spread out on a coffee table with the message "Keep 'em Safe. Bring 'em home. Iraq war Wrong way."
Participants listened as Carlton read stories from families who lost sons and daughters.
After each story was read, there was a moment of silence.
"We'll say prayers for the 3,200 soldiers whose lives have been lost," said Carlton.
"I just wanted to memorialize each life that has been lost. They were valued human lives and I want them to be remembered," said Carlton.
The peace vigil also honored the estimated 54,000 Iraqi people who have died.
"Thirty five thousand soldiers have come back with parts of their bodies or minds already gone," said Carlton.
Gary Ireland drove from Columbia City, in Southeast Seattle to attend.
"It's very frustrating. It does not seem to matter to the president (George W. Bush) what people think. He is bound to do what he is going to do no matter what anyone else thinks," said Ireland.
