For Immediate Release                                             Contact:
September 19, 2005                                              Dave Therault (719) 459-6471
12:00 PM                                                            ThreshingMachine.BlogSpot.com
                                                                       Mark Lewis 719-471-9400
                                                                                     CSAction.org

Colorado Springs' Camp Casey memorializes our fallen soldiers

Colorado Springs-September 19

Camp Casey, Colorado Springs will install 1,900 crosses with names and photos of the 1,900 US fallen soldiers from the Iraq War on Tuesday, September 20 at 2 p.m. in the camp location at Nevada and Dale.

The memorial is organized by This Republic Can, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, Gold Star Families for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Colorado Caravan to Crawford, Citizen's for Peace in Space, and Springs Action Alliance.

The days events include a meditation from 8 until 9 a.m., memorial installation from 11a.m. until 4p.m., music from 4 until 8 and the documentary "Skipping in Camp Casey", shot by Chun Pan in Camp Casey, Crawford, Texas at the Camp Casey Drive-In Movie from 8 until 12. Filmaker, Chun Pan and composer Daria Joanna will attend the premier.

Vietnam Veteran Skip Edwards, of This Republic Can of Telluride, who will bring the 1,900 memorial crosses to Colorado Springs said, "I started the cross display to give presence to the cost of war in 2004 at a peace rally in Grand Junction at which I, as a Viet Nam War Veteran, was an invited speaker."

"The display was an attempt at that time to remember the fallen and save the living by stopping the war."

"Since that time the crosses have been to many western Colorado towns including Telluride, Durango, Carbondale, Pueblo and others. They also traveled to Missoula and Helena Montana", Mr. Edwards said.

Dave Therault, organizer and Camp Casey, Crawford member said, "I find it telling that the individuals who have, over a period of years, constructed this memorial, and who with great devotion keep it updated, are Viet Nam vets."

"The message I hear over and over from the older veterans is how little they feel they are doing to help prevent another tragedy from befalling American soldiers and the destruction of another foreign people. In fact, it is the vets and the mothers of fallen soldiers who are at the center of this peace movement. It is they who I believe will ultimately stop the war," Mr. Therault said.

Mark Lewis, Of the Springs Action Alliance said, "Anti war is not anti warrior. The essence of our opposition to war and especially this foreign policy is the protection of our sons, daughters, father and mothers who are soldiers. Their sense of duty and loyalty may lead them in a different than ours, but we respect it and don't want it exploited by any administration for interventionalism. This memorial is just one of the many ways we show that." 

"People address their grief in many ways, and this is one way that has no political affiliation."

Mr. Lewis publishes the full calendar of the 10 days of Camp Casey Colorado Springs on the Springs Action Alliance website, CSAction.org and covers the ongoing antiwar movement in the group's daily news. The entire event, as well as the Colorado Caravan trip to Crawford, Texas is also documented by Dave Therault on the ThreshingMachine blog.

Food, tents, sleeping bags, water, toilet facilities, music, and documentaries each night are provided to all campers. The Camp Casey Drive-In Movie will show socially relevant documentaries each night for 10 nights.
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