Memorial Day Story in New Jersey Herald, May 30, 2006

Sparta remembers fallen soldiers

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

By JESSICA SEDA

Herald Staff Writer

SPARTA Small candles flickered in the back of the room Monday as the names of deceased soldiers were read to a small crowd during a remembrance ceremony held at the Sparta United Methodist Church.

Members of the Northwest New Jersey Peace Fellowship and others in the community gathered at various times between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to honor the American soldiers who lost their lives during the war in Iraq. In all, 2,464 names were read.

"Today is about remembering and honoring all who have died as a result of this war," said Litsa Binder, a Sparta resident and one of the fellowship's founders. "I believe we should give a meaning to their death during our work for peace."

Those who attended Monday's service took turns reading the names, ages and hometowns of each soldier killed since the war began on March 19, 2003. The list was interrupted several times as those in attendance said prayers or sang. Soldiers from varying ranks were included on the list and many were between the ages of 18 and 30.

"I think the most striking thing is the ages," Binder said. "One of the most awful things about war is that we put our kids in harm's way."

The fellowship first formed in September 2002 in hopes of preventing the war and has continued to meet ever since, holding vigils each Friday between 6 and 7 p.m. on the Newton Green. While many of the group's members oppose war in general, their stance against the Iraq war is more profound.

"I'm not a total pacifist," Sparta resident Don Scott said. "I supported World War II, but not Vietnam and not this war. It is unnecessary and we engaged in it under false pretenses."

Scott and his wife, Joyce, are members of the fellowship and attended Monday's service to remember those who paid the ultimate price.

Several members said a main reason they were against the war was the unfounded reasons given by the Bush administration for going to battle, such as to find weapons of mass destruction.

"This particular war is heinous," Newton resident Sharon Pontier said. "We went in and did take down a clearly cruel dictator, but we didn't create a safe place for the people of that country. There are better ways to solve problems than war."

Several rows of chairs were set up in one of the church's classrooms, giving attendants room to sit and listen as a speaker recited the names from a podium at the front of the room. A sign off to the side displayed the words, 'Support Our Troops, Bring Them Home Now.' It also stated that in addition to those killed, 17,648 American soldiers were wounded during the war.

A poster display of 43 pairs of boots, commemorating each soldier from New Jersey killed in Iraq stood at the back of the room. The display was taken from the 'Eyes Wide Open' campaign by the American Friends Service Committee which aims to show the human cost of the Iraq war by displaying a pair of boots for each United States casualty.