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A vigil to mark the 3,000th U.S. military death in Iraq was held in Chisago City at Moberg Park Monday, January 1. Around 20 people showed up in Chisago City as part of a national call to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home now by increasing visibility to the ongoing tragedy in Iraq and its cost in human lives.

The national call for vigils was coordinated by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker peace and social justice organization. A statement issued by organizers says, in part, "How many U.S. soldiers and Iraqis must lose their lives before our government finally admits that the war was wrong and it is time to bring the troops home? On this New Year's weekend we mourn the loss of Iraqi and U.S. lives and rededicate ourselves to working for an end to the war in 2007."

The vigils were organized under the call of "Not One More Death, Not One More Dollar." The anti-war event calls attention to not only the 3,000 U.S. military dead but also the unknown thousands of Iraqi people dead as a result of the U.S. war in Iraq and encouraging citizens to contact their congressmen and congresswomen to stop funding of this war.

Over 200 events took place on Jan first in cities and towns, large and small, across the U.S. to mark the 3,000th U.S. military death in Iraq. Local peace activists, Delia Jurek and Deb Wilken of Center City organized the Chisago event in conjunction with AFSC and Minnesota organizations: Twin Cities Peace Campaign-Focus on Iraq, Women Against Military Madness, Anti-War Committee, Iraq Peace Action Coalition, Military Families Speak Out and others.

Ongoing vigils are also held weekly across the nation to help us all remember the ongoing weekly and daily tragedy of this war.

A weekly vigil is held in Chisago City in Moberg Park every Friday, from 5-6 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Delia Jurek encourages concerned citizens to "make a difference in 2007, to take some kind of action and to remember the words of Margaret Mead, " Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

For information call Delia Jurek, Center City, 651-257-5904, or visit the AFSC website at www.afsc.org; call Twin Cities Peace Campaign 612-522-1861 or Women Against Military Madness 612-827-5364 or e-mail iraqpeaceactioncoalition @yahoo.com.

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