NEW YORK STATE "MARATHON MARCH FOR PEACE'

10 Day Peace March

From May 8th to May 17th a small, but passionate band of war protesters performed a Marathon of Peace Marches, walking to Watertown, New York. The came from 3 different directions, Rochester(west), Ithaca(south) and Utica(east), New York converging around Pulaski before pursuing their final march to Watertown, NY where Fort Drum army base is located. They chose this destination since Fort Drum has been considered the largest deployment base in the country for soldiers to the Irag and Afghanistan Wars.

I couldn't help but remember from my grammar school history that there was a 3 prong march during the Revolutionary War Days covering somewhat similar historic geography to this march. Other similarities could probably be made about empires, volunteer dissident efforts, King George and another George. Participants came from as far away as Philadelphia, western Pa.,
New York City, Buffalo and Vermont. Not all could walk the entire distance, but they had as their purpose presenting themselves to and engaging dialogue with the rural communities along the way.

In general the marchers found the people to be surprisingly supportive of their pleas to end the war and bring the troops home. Jake from Uthaca told me after marching 4 days that he felt "very encouraged by the response of the people he encountered along the way. Initially 1 business owner told his group to move off "his property" which was the sidewalk in front of his restaurant,
but then changed his attitude by inviting them into the restaurant.

Another walker, Tom from Ithaca, mentioned that he found the bystanders to be very supportive the closer his group got to Watertown and Fort Drum.
Early on he experienced only a few cat calls, but none of that later on in the march. I asked him why that might be. He surmised that maybe people are tired of sending their sons and daughters off to Irag and Afghanistan. The 2nd Brigade has been deployed from Fort Drum 4 times during these wars. He also noted that peace protesters and people in general are welcoming the troops
when they come back, unlike the Vietnam War.

Kathy Castania, who took on the huge task of spearheading much of the organizing of the march, noted that a couple of war supporting groups had made threats to some marchers saying "they wouldn't make it to Fort Drum" and had asked various people in their area to resist support for the marchers and the Iraq Veterans Against the War(IVAW). On the contrary people came out of their houses applauding support for their efforts. One woman mentioned the war has put tremendous stress on her family, citing that her son came back as a "human shell" as he is one of the more that 300,000 who suffer from PTSD (POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER). Kathy mentioned another purpose of the march was to draw support for the veterans in getting the medical benefits they have had difficulty getting. Lastly she hopes that the overall success of the Ten Day March may serve as a model for other groups around the country to follow for "speaking out to bring the troops home."

David Danford, a walker from Rochester pointed out the efforts of a man who drove up in a nursing home van. The driver happened to be Dr.
Lory an owner of a nursing home. He volunteered his van and medical sedrvices to the marchers.

The medical backup was helpful for the walkers including Ric, a Vietnam Veteran from Rochester, who did 4 days of the march in his wheelchair and who is at times dependent on oxygen. Ric also mentioned that although many of the organizers and walkers of this marathon peace march are on the "older side" many young people along the way joined the walk. Danielle, a high school student from Pierpont, NY who has writteen articles and done some organizing against the war, joined the walkers for the rest of the trip to Watertown. Freshsmen from Oswego State College talked with the walkers about their efforts in working with CAN(Campus Anti-War Network). A group of High School kids from Pulaski jumped on their bikes and rode 12 miles that day to Adams Center with the group.

Sean another Veteran from Rochester, marched 9 of
10 days suffering from blisters along the way. Sean has done alot of publicity support. A Vietnam War Vet joined the march along the way, but could only march 1 day due to an injury. He said he long awaited an opportunity to put his feelings into action about this war.

On the lighter side, Vicky Rider, a longtime Peace Activist and Founder of Raging Grannies from Rochester, along with her husband Doug Rider, a member of Veterans For Peace, brought their dog along for the ride. His sign "BONES NOT BOMBS" also highlighted the more than human side of this great marathon for peace that was undertaken by 70 or so walkers over the 10 day span. The numbers were not huge, but their hearts were full of a passion that just may embolden more Americans to Come Out and Speak Out against this devastating and costly war.

Submitted by Rich Hanford, Member Veterans for Peace, Rochester, NY May 25, 2008