170 FLORIDA SOLDIERS' DEATHS REMEMBERED BY ANTIWAR GROUP AT NATIONAL CEMETERY AS WAR APPROACHES 4,000 AMERICAN DEAD

5th Year of War Commemoration Solemnly Held To Remind Americans of Unending War

Bushnell, Florida: Saturday, March 22, 2008: The NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice remembered the 5th year anniversary of the Iraq War by holding a quiet commemoration of the 170 Florida war dead at The Florida National Veterans Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.

The names, hometown and rank of 170 Florida soldiers who have died since March 19, 2003, were read individually in between taps that were automatically played at Shelter "A" in the large cemetery. Brian Moore, Chair of the Coalition, reported that the "Iraq Casualties, US Map" report indicated that the four top cities with war dead in Florida are Miami (13), Tampa (13), Orlando (10) and Jacksonville (9); and the other locations follow. The report further reported that Florida ranks fifth in the nation in Iraq War troops deaths after California (426), Texas (370), Pennsylvania (183) and New York (175).

16 members of the antiwar group participated in today's event. There were no protests nor signs held by the group, other than the solemn readings, moments of silence, and comments made by two coalition members who are also military veterans, Deron Mikal (Korea) and Joseph Murphy (World War II).

Mr. Mikal, who is a retired VA counselor, spoke of the commitment of soldiers in general and of the risks troops know they accept when going to where their country wants them. Mikal also indicated that there are up to 300,000 returning veterans from the Iraq War with serious mental and emotional problems that the country needs to address and support. Mr. Murphy thanked the deceased soldiers and their families for their service and sacrifice, and urged the country to support more benefits for returning veterans.

Moore complimented the Veterans Cemetery, and its Administrator, Billy Murphy, for accommodating the group's commemorative request, and also for the absence of cemetery police today. Moore also thanked the ACLU for assisting the peace group to successfully arrange for the solemn vigil.

That was not the case last year when a smaller group of coalition members first went to the cemetery without applying though the VA protocol. They were met at the front entrance by the cemetery police car, blocked from entering the premises and threatened with arrest.

Moore said the only downside today was the presence of some "vigilante veteran who obviously supports the war" who showed up unannounced, refused to give his name, and stood behind the group the entire time 'in an apparent effort to intimidate, or to snitch on any cemetery infraction'. [The gentleman can be seen in the photo in the back of the group with his arms crossed in dark glasses.]

Today's media reports indicated that three more American troops were killed bringing the Iraq War's total to 3,996 deaths, only four short of 4,000. The group's participants also wore lapel patches with the same number highlighted on their chests.

A video of the day was made and is hoped to follow up this release.

The peace group did find an opportunity to raise its antiwar banners, signs and flags, but this was done outside the national cemetery, about a mile away, on an overpass of U.S. Interstate Highway 75, at exit 309, for Webster and Bushnell. The group hung their banners from both sides of the overpass, for traffic heading north and south. Many passersby honked in support of the efforts. However, twenty minutes into the effort, the Sumter County Sheriff's patrol cars arrived with flashing red lights and sirens blaring, ordering the protestors off the highway overpass.