Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005 | 11:28 a.m.
About 100 people clutching candles in Styrofoam cups gathered in the summer breezes at Sunset Park at dusk Wednesday to show support for Cindy Sheehan's vigil in front of President Bush's Texas ranch.
It was an evening of emotion, song and prayer that was peppered with passionate attacks against Bush.
"My heart's breaking," said Las Vegas resident Dale Clemons, who stepped to the center of a circle formed by those quietly gathered at one of eight vigils held around the valley. More than 1,500 gatherings were held nationwide Wednesday night.
"We've had a lot of men and women die in World War II to keep fascism from our country," Clemons said. "Then it strolls through the front door of the White House.
"I think this is the beginning of the end of this policy," Clemons said of the administration's handling of the Iraq war.
The traffic whizzing by on Eastern Avenue nearly drowned out his words as Clemons summed up the support for Sheehan.
Sheehan, a California mother in her second week of a growing protest outside the Crawford, Texas, ranch where President Bush is taking a monthlong vacation, lost her son, Casey, in Iraq in 2004. She is calling on Bush to meet with her during his stay at the ranch and justify her son's death. Bush, who met with her in 2004, has declined to meet her again.
"I just wanted to come to support this," said William Cupp, whose brother Michael lives in Dallas and is planning to join Sheehan's demonstration this weekend.
"We should bring the troops home," Cupp said. "We're in a war that we shouldn't have been in."
Athena Khalsa-Marcus, a second grade teacher, expressed anger at the president for ignoring families such as Sheehan's.
"This is a country full of people at his disposal for anything he can think up, but to a mother it is her child," she said.
"Look at this one mother going up against the president," Khalsa-Marcus said. "Who even has the time anymore? Supporting our troops means bringing them home."
Helen Patz, who organized the Sunset Park vigil, said she reached out for supporters on her computer and hopes the demonstrations are only the beginning of a peace movement not seen since anti-Vietnam War protesters hit the streets.
"It started rolling two days ago on the Internet," Patz said. "We're here to back up Cindy Sheehan 100 percent. It's taken the lives of many spouses and children. We want to know why the war in Iraq is still going on."
MoveOn.org, True Majority and Democracy for America teamed up on the Web to organize the vigils around the nation, including six in the Las Vegas Valley, said Karen Kostoff, another organizer.
"It's a peaceful, supportive gathering with mothers and their families," Kostoff said.
A Waco, Texas-area man, 52-year-old Fred Mattlage, has temporarily provided 212 acres of cattle pasture near the ranch for Sheehan's anti-war camp out of compassion rather than politics, he told the Associated Press.
He said a brother who lives in Las Vegas and owns an acre there gave him permission to let the protesters use his land too.
Mattlage said he offered the land after hearing complaints in Waco against the demonstrators, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Mattlage's brother in Las Vegas could not be reached for comment.
Among the many people at the Las Vegas vigil expressing their solidarity with Sheehan was Lea Daleo.
"We're all here for a cause, not just for hers (Sheehan), but any son or daughter who lost their lives in Iraq," said Daleo, who said she is a staunch Democrat.
"This is the worst president of my life, and I am 64 years old," Daleo said.
"And I'm 84 and feel the same way," chimed in Ernie Costilla, who drove Daleo to the vigil.
Registered Nurse Christine Sawyer said she had come to support Sheehan.
"I'm just here as a good Democrat," the nurse at University Medical Center said as she patted Annie, her gray 9-year-old dog.
Delena Bobbera began to cry as she spoke of what brought her to the gathering.
"I can't believe Laura (Bush) as a mother isn't standing up for her (Sheehan)," Bobbera said. "I'm here to show support for Cindy and other mothers and fathers. I can't understand why President Bush can't take an hour out of his vacation and meet her."
Richard Schachet, rabbi emeritus of Valley Outreach Synagogue, and Rabbi Yocheved Mintz prayed for peace in Iraq and in the world. They led the group in a soft rendition of "Give Peace a Chance."
After the half-hour vigil, about 20 people stood on the sidewalk on Eastern, displaying a banner saying "Enough is enough," with the names of the dead military men and women on it.
"The U.S. war in Iraq hasn't changed anything," said Ralph Mathieu, holding a candle and a photo of Sheehan. "I don't feel it is making it any safer from terrorism."
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