Cindy Sheehan in Hawaii

 RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM

Peace activist Cindy Sheehan got a standing ovation last night as she took the stage to address a standing-room-only crowd at Church of the Crossroads.

Anti-war activist cheered Sheehan urges about 750 to help stop the war and impeach Bush By Mary Vorsino
mvorsino@starbulletin.com

Peace activist Cindy Sheehan urged a standing-room-only crowd at the Church of the Crossroads last night to unite to stop the war in Iraq, impeach President Bush and "see justice" for those killed since the war started in 2003.

"If you don't want the war machine to invade your island, don't let it happen," said Sheehan, whose 24-year-old son died in Iraq and who gained international attention for staging an anti-war demonstration outside Bush's ranch in Texas.

"Anybody can do what I do. We are the checks and balances for our country. We would like to see justice," she told the crowd of about 750.

The two-hour event at the University Avenue church also featured former U.S. Foreign Service Deputy Chief and Honolulu resident Ann Wright, who participated in Sheehan's protest in Crawford, Texas.

 "I think it's important that people learn the truth," said Mark-Anthony Pascua, a member of Not in Our Name, which organized the event. "You don't fight unjust wars."

After Sheehan spoke, the father of a Hawaii soldier who died in the war brought the audience to tears and spurred a standing ovation.

Paul Wessel, father of Pfc. Kevin Wessel, said his son "really loved this country" and "really loved being a soldier." He went to war, his father said, to take the place of a married man and because he did not want to leave his friends behind.

"Kevin sacrificed himself for the soldiers he was with," Wessel said, tears choking his speech. "We are losing this war via the death of a thousand cuts. We are losing two soldiers every day, and no matter how many we kill, they are being replaced."

Kevin Wessel would have been 21 years old today.

Before Sheehan's speech, two supporters of the U.S. war in Iraq held signs on the church lawn.

"I feel that people need to hear the other part of the story," said Judy Jones, who held a sign that read, "Support Our Troops."

"I feel we've really made some successes in Afghanistan and Iraq. I disagree with bringing the troops back before the job is done," she said.

Since her Texas demonstration, Sheehan has been traveling around the world, making speeches at conferences and leading anti-war protests.

Over the past week, Sheehan has been vacationing on Kauai. She was set to fly out of Honolulu last night, hours after the speech.

Last night, she told audience members that she never got involved in anything before her son's death because she believed she could not make a difference.

"But we are the ones that have the power," she said. "We have a voice."

She said Bush should either resign or be impeached for leading the country into war, and she promised to "fight to bring down the war machine in this country."

After the speech, Sheehan got a roaring round of applause. Many said they were happy that she was able to make an appearance in the islands.

"She's got a story to tell and the courage to tell it," said Scott Allen, an administrator at a private school.

Wright, who resigned in 2003 to protest the U.S. invasion of Iraq, told audience members that the anti-war movement "needs help" from more citizens.

"We have to be really, really, really tough right now," Wright said. "This is a very serious and deadly time."

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Posted on: Thursday, January 5, 2006

Bush ‘war machine’ blasted

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

 

Pete Doktor, of Manoa, hugs Cindy Sheehan at the Church of the Crossroads, where Sheehan spoke to a crowd of more than 200.

REBECCA BREYER | The Honolulu Advertiser  

Laulani Teale, left, of Kane'ohe, confronts Sara Huff, of Pearl Harbor, and Jim Hochberg, of Niu Valley. Huff and Hochberg were protesting last night's event at the Church of the Crossroads in Mo'ili'ili.

The California woman who has become the face of the anti-war movement last night urged Hawai'i residents to be more active in the fight to end the war in Iraq.

Cindy Sheehan spoke to an overflow crowd of more than 200 people at the Church of the Crossroads in Mo'ili'ili. The event was sponsored by the anti-war group Not In Our Name.

Sheehan has become the symbol of the peace movement since she held a 26-day sit-in last August near the entrance to President Bush's Crawford, Texas, ranch. Hundreds of people from across the country joined Sheehan at what became "Camp Casey" as she vowed to stay until Bush spoke to her.

Sheehan's son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, 24, was killed in Iraq on April 4, 2004.

Since August, Cindy Sheehan and other family members of soldiers killed in Iraq have founded the Gold Star Families for Peace. She also has inspired anti-war protests and last night she brought her message to Hawai'i.

Sheehan was critical of the Bush administration, which she characterized as a "war machine." She said Bush is using the military in the name of oil and to fill the wallets of the wealthy in this country.

"America is a good country, but we can be a great country and we're only going to be a great country if we quit using our violence, if we quit killing people," Sheehan said. "The war machine is always looking for conflict. The war machine is always looking for some way to eat our children and spit them out."

Sheehan, of Vacaville, Calif., said she never thought of herself as an activist and she never imagined that her sit-down at the Bush ranch would lead to such an outpouring of support. She said her son "died for nothing" and she wanted to be sure other families won't have to go through the pain that she has endured.

"We don't have a chance to heal and we're never going to fully get over what's happened to us," Sheehan said. "People always want to marginalize me and say, 'Oh, she's just a grieving mom.' Well, you're damn right I'm a grieving mom and thanks to George Bush I'm going to be a grieving mom for the restof my life."

Sheehan encouraged the crowd to be active in protests here and on the Mainland.

"What we found out at Camp Casey was we do have a voice, that they have tried to take our country away from us and we weren't going to let them do that anymore," she said.

Perhaps the most emotional moment of the evening came when Sheehan asked the father of a Hawai'i man killed in Iraq to address the crowd. Paul Wessel described how his son, Kevin, loved the Army and how he was killed last April by a car bomb.

Kevin Wessel would have turned 21 today.

"He was happy to be there. He was happy to serve all of you because he truly believed that's what he was doing," a tearful Wessel told the crowd. "He loved being a soldier, that's what he lived for. However, he never lost his humanity."

Although he opposes the war in Iraq, Paul Wessel said Americans should direct their anger and frustration at the White House, not the troops.

"Please remember, don't take this out on the soldiers. Give them as much love and appreciation as you can," he said.

Prior to the speeches, Judy Jones stood alone outside the church hall to protest the event. Jones was later joined by a couple more protesters who support the war.

"I don't believe we need to bring the troops back until the job is done," Jones said.

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Iraq War Protester Cindy Sheehan on Oahu
 Cindy Sheehan

Allen K. Hoe

HONOLULU (KHNL) She gained national attention when she camped outside the president's ranch, protesting the war. Tonight, she's on Oahu.

Cindy Sheehan lost a son who was serving in Iraq and has been on an anti-war crusade.

But as KHNL News 8's Kristine Uyeno tells us, not every grieving parent shares Sheehan's strong feelings against the war.

Cindy Sheehan lost her son in Iraq. So did local resident Allen K. Hoe. Both of them are still grieving their deaths.

"It's just the pain doesn't go away, it's something you learn to live with, it's like you miss him more everyday" said Sheehan.

"Anyone who has seen his picture will always remember that kolohe-looking smile" said Hoe.

They have learned to move on, except they're going in two different directions.One parent, opposing the war at the president's ranch.

"We are here for the duration. We'll be here until August 31st, or until he talks to me." said Sheehan last summer, outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Hoe is standing behind the country's presence in Iraq.

"For anyone to try and bootstrap the loss of a loved one to a political issue brings total disrespect and dishonor of the memory to that loved one" said Hoe.

Hoe's son Nainoa, became the first Native Hawaiian to die in Iraq. He was a fourth-generation soldier

While both parents support U.S. troops, when it comes to their son's death, Sheehan points fingers.

"What George Bush did by killing my son and having our children fighting an illegal war dishonors them and it dishonors the USA" said Sheehan.

Sheehan vows to spread her anti-war message until the troops return.

"My son died saving his buddy's life, George Bush, wouldn't even go to Vietnam."

But Hoe will preserve his son's legacy, in a different way.

"The memories I have of him growing up and all of his incredible accomplishments."

Cindy Sheehan plans to travel to Venezuela and Italy, promoting peace. As for Allen K. Hoe, this month is especially hard on his family. They are approaching the one year mark of Nainoa's death.

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Joy Hammerle, 8, sobs as she hugs her dad, Staff Sgt. Chris Hammerly, Thursday, Jan, 5, 2006, minutes after a farewell salute ceremony at the National Guard Armory in Lawrenceville, N.J. More than one hundred National Guard soldiers are being mobilized for at least one year to Afghanistan. (AP Photo/ Jose F. Moreno)