Hundreds Attend Vigil for Marine Families (rate the story up on Yahoo)

[Ian David]

Hundreds Attend Vigil for Marine Families

By JOE DANBORN, Associated Press WriterSat Aug 6, 6:25 AM ET

With the last of 16 Ohio families notified that their Marines were dead in Iraq, other military families rallied to help, and hundreds gathered for a prayer vigil in Cleveland.

"When my son comes home, I can have my nervous breakdown," said Isolde Zierk, who leads a support group for a Columbus-based reservist company that has suffered 11 of the casualties. "Until then, I'll just keep on doing what I can."

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The losses came in quick succession for the suburban Cleveland-based 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines. Two soldiers died July 28 in a gun battle, followed by five on Monday while on sniper patrol. Then nine members of the battalion were killed Wednesday along with five other Marines and an interpreter in the deadliest roadside bombing of U.S. troops in Iraq.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, a critic of U.S. policy in Iraq, has attended six war-linked funeral {that makes six more than Bush }since the war began and said he would attend as many as he can for the most recent casualties.

"You have to understand the human dimension," Kucinich said. "For those families, this becomes a tragedy of monumental proportions. There have been more than 1,800 families like that."

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ohio_marines_killed&printer=1;_ylt=AodnUYZs3GfMcSZgKdvrHjlH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-

[Ready4Change]

1. We need a national night.

Any one who is sorry for the loss of our troops. Anyone who wants the rest of our troops to come home safe.

I think we can all agree on those things. I think, for one night, we can lay all the other differences aside, and just wish for the best for our kids over there.

Maybe something like, at 11pm EST, 8pm pacific, go on your front porch, or your front yard, with a lit candle, or flashlight. No words. No songs. No sermons. Just light and hope for one minute. All of us together.

We need that.

[TahitiNut]

2. Kucinich was INVITED to attend, did NOT politicize the funerals, and ....

... demonstrated compassion for the grieving families. He's a class act.