In southwest Florida—and throughout the country—candlelight vigils are planned tomorrow night - in support of Cindy Sheehan. She’s the woman camped out in front of President George W. Bush’s Texas ranch.
Sheehan’s son - Casey - was killed in Iraq last year. She’s been in front of Mr. Bush’s Crawford ranch for several weeks…hoping, she says, to ask the President when US troops will come home.
The liberal political group - MoveOn.Org – is promoting the vigils through its website.
MoveOn member - Beverly Mesch of Cape Coral – is hosting one in Fort Myers. Mesch says she got word from MoveOn, but didn’t see a vigil listed for southwest Florida, so decided to volunteer to host one herself.
She says the event isn’t political…but a chance for people with the same questions as Sheehan to come together.
“There’s not going to be any speeches. This is not a political rally. This is a chance for people to do something with their pain…and with their fear…because so many of our children have died, and so many more will die before we get out of there. And then we don’t know when we’re going to get out of there…and we don’t know if there’s going to be another there after this one is over.”
At his ranch last week in Crawford, President Bush said he grieves for every death, but now’s not the time to withdraw from Iraq.
“This is America – she has a right to her position. And I’ve thought long and hard about her position. I’ve heard her position from others…which is get out of Iraq now. And it would be a mistake for the security of this country and the ability to lay the foundations for peace in the long run if we were to do so.”
The candlelight vigil starts tomorrow night at 7:30 in downtown Fort Myers’ Centennial Park.