To the editor:
On March 19, 2003, the United States invaded Iraq. The U.S. had already invaded Afghanistan, where troops still remain.
A group of Aroostook County people, who opposed the war and its cost and waste in lives and resources, immediately began a weekly protest on the Aroostook River bridge in Presque Isle, part of the Bridges for Peace movement. This March 19 will mark the end of the eleventh full year of war protests on the bridge. Rain or shine or snow, heat or cold, and always wind, a group has been there to exercise its right to speak out against government folly. Through declarations of victory and success, through increasing body counts, through surges and other policy fiascoes, the group on the bridge has been a consistent voice against the folly of war.
Consider the costs (the source here is costofwar.org.) These figures are for the U.S. only:
• over 6,650 soldiers killed in combat. 3,000 civilian contractors have been killed as well
• 106,000 wounded, injured or sick
• nearly four trillion dollars, including projected benefits to disabled and other veterans
• 671,000 veteran disability claims approved, as of August 2012.
And what has the U.S. gained for all this loss? What has anyone gained?
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are not over. They continue to be waged at great cost to the people of this country [and certainly the peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan,] costs that will continue for many decades in caring for soldiers physically and psychologically wounded by these wars.
We do not celebrate our 11 years on the bridge, but we do honor the commitment to peace and non-violence of the many who have participated in the protests over the last 11 years.
We invite you to join us on March 23, 2014, from noon to 1 p.m., on the Aroostook River bridge in Presque Isle, to mark the eleventh anniversary of this bridge for peace.
Steve DeMaio, Easton
John Cancelarich, Presque Isle
Alice Bolstridge, Presque Isle
Betty Dexter, Fort Fairfield
Mike Lyng, Lee, Mass.
Jim Fitzgerald, Ashland
