By MIKE CAPUTO
Despite pouring rain and muddy footing, the Valley Stream resident was among a small group of protesters who gathered at the corner of Peninsula Boulevard and Gibson Boulevard in Hewlett March 19, marking the nationÕs five-year-long war in Iraq.
ÒIt has impressed me that people are really concerned,Ó Dwyer said.
The candlelight vigil in Hewlett was part of a nationwide effort by MoveOn.org to promote peace and an end to the war on its five-year anniversary. Hewlett resident Eleanor Wolff organized the vigil at the Gibson Boulevard park.
Dwyer arrived at the gathering after attending one in Garden City only an hour earlier. That event, she said, had attracted more than 100 people. Although only a dozen attended the Hewlett ceremony, their message was clear. ÒIt shows that American people are saying, ÔWait a minute, IÕm not supporting the war anymore,ÕÓ Dwyer said. ÒWe want to end things and bring these [troops] home.Ó
Wolff invited a handful of people, and said she was pleased with the turnout despite the bad weather. Even though she said she is not a member of MoveOn.org, she felt compelled to organize a vigil after receiving an e-mail informing her of the nationwide event. ÒYou hear about it, but you need someone to say, ÔLetÕs all do this across the country, and send a message that we want the troops to come home,ÕÓ she said.
According to MoveOn.orgÕs Web site, one of the organizationÕs mission, is to help busy yet concerned citizens develop a political voice.
Hewlett resident Harold Silverman led the group in prayer, and then they sang ÒThis Land is Your Land.Ó Wolff concluded the vigil by reading a letter from the family of Staff Sgt. Jennifer Riddle of Hewlett, a communications specialist serving her second tour of duty in Iraq.
Riddle stressed the importance of donating supplies to soldiers overseas such as razor blades, toothbrushes, toothpaste and candy. The Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Cedarhurst has sent collections of such items overseas at Christmas and Easter.
James Gilmore and his family came from Floral Park to take part in the ceremony. Gilmore, who found out about the vigil on the MoveOn.org Web site, emphasized that people negatively perceive such demonstrations as anti-war and anti-troops. That isnÕt so, he explained.
ÒIt allows [the troops] to know weÕre out there for them and their interests,Ó Gilmore said. ÒWe love our troops and our country.Ó
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