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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, March 8, 1968
Peace vigil silently celebrates anniversary
By Linda McCrerey
Kansan Staff Reporter
Every Sunday they come,
standing motionless from noon to
12:30 p.m. on Massachusetts
Street in South Park.
One holds a sign, "Silent Vigil for Peace in Vietnam."
Next Sunday they will come again as usual. Next Sunday is significant, however, because it marks the one-year anniversary of the Vigil.
The Vigil-keepers are mosyu KU students and faculty members, although several babies and a retired railroad worker are among the group. The size of the
Army is boss in DMZ area
SAIGON—(UPD)—Gen. William C. Westmoreland, commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam, announced Friday the creation of a new tactical command in the two northern provinces of South Vietnam. Westmoreland named army Lt. Gen. William B. Rosson to command it.
The move puts an Army man in an area that had been considered U.S. Marine territory. The establishment of the new command—over both Army and Marine troops—was seen as an effort to bring the threatened area along the Demilitarized Zone, including the Marine base at Khe Sanh, more directly under the control of the U.S. command at Saigon.
The announcement capped weeks of speculation about a change in the command at the beleagued Marine base at Khe Sanh.
U. S. intelligence estimates that an invasion force of about 70,000 North Vietnamese are poised along the DMZ. American commanders have said for weeks that they expect a major attack along the DMZ at any time.
The new command includes the Marine base at Khe Sanh where an estimated 16,000 North Vietnamese troops surround about 5,000 Marines on the western end of the DMZ.
group varies with the weather.
One Sunday last summer only
one showed up, but usually about
15 stand in line.
They will step out of line to talk with genuinely interested people, but otherwise conduct their vigil without speaking. Heckling is met without response.
The group has not met with much hostility, though. Soon after its creation a year ago, police and FBI officers appeared to take their pictures, but vigil-keepers refused to get upset. Some even brought their own cameras and photographed the picture-takers.
Even the appearance of an antiprost protest has caused little concern. Two Sundays ago a small group gathered near the Vigil bearing signs saying, "Silent Vigil Protesting Communism in America."
The first group is not sure if the second is with or against them. "What they don't realize is
that none of us are Communist," said John Mason, Salina sophomore. The people come of their own accord. Although some meet together at other political activities, there is no leader or organization in the vig.*
Why do these people turn up every Sunday for the Silent Vigil for Peace in Vietnam?
"Everybody's there for a different reason," said Bob Woodbury, Lawrence graduate student.
Most believe, however, that present military methods won't solve the war in Vietnam.
Woodbury said the Vigil is effective because it is consistent, "not a one-shot deal," showing people there are those who are not afraid to stand up and protest the war.
The advantage of the vigil,
Woodbury said, is its non-threatening and passive nature; therefore it is less hostile than a march.
Another "regular" vigil-keeper
Both Roach and Mason, who is the current sign-carrier, plan to continue the Vigil "until the war is ended—hopefully as soon as possible," said Mason.
is Mrs. Warner A. Morse, classics lecturer. She said many people are unacasy about the war but are afraid to make public profession of their feelings.
"My purpose in standing out there is to let other people know they are not alone," she said.
I want to be counted among those who said it was wrong at the time."
Joe Roach, Lawrence junior,
said the Silent Vigil accomplishes
two things for him: "One,
it makes me feel better. Two, if it
will for one moment make somebody
stop and think, examine
their conscience about the war,
then the Vigil is justified."
"It is for us a public expression of conscience. I feel it is morally necessary. I have said mutely and peacefully in a lawful manner that I do not condone this war," said Mrs. Morse.
Roach said he advocates immediate withdrawal of forces from Vietnam. "When the inevitable judgment of history is handed down—that the U.S. was wrong—
About 600-800 cars will drive past them Sunday, as usual. Most will bypass them without any reaction. An adolescent may yell a comment.
But someone may stop and join the line. Said Mrs. Theodore Eaton, a regular vigil-keeper, "This is the reaction that cheers us the most."
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