The candlelight vigil will take place on the steps of the Lancaster County Courthouse, King and Duke streets, at 7 p.m. The day of the event cannot be determined until the casualty count has been announced.

“We’re not planning any speeches,” said Bob Lowing, one of the vigil’s organizers. “We’re not gathering to politicize the situation, either. The vigil will be a reflection on the loss of human life — American troops and Iraqi civilians and security forces.”

He said the day of the vigil cannot be confirmed as of yet, but that it will definitely not take place on New Year’s Eve.

“We have no way of knowing when the death toll will reach 3,000,” Lowing said, “just that it will be sometime this weekend.

“But, if the number is announced this Sunday, we’re not going to hold the vigil on New Year’s Eve because there will be too many community events going on at the time,” he said, “in which case, we’ll hold the vigil on Monday.”

He said the vigil is part of a national campaign that originated with the American Friends Service Committee.

AFSC is urging peace supporters across the United States to organize events in their hometowns the day after the 3,000th U.S. military death in Iraq is announced. So far, there are 224 events being planned in 44 states. The slogan of AFSC’s campaign is: “Not another death. Not another dollar.”

As of Friday evening, the causality count was 2,996.

Lowing said many local church and peace organizations will be involved with the Lancaster vigil. Organizers include Mimi Shapiro of the local chapter of Women in Black and Charles and Marga Lane of the Lancaster Coalition for Peace and Justice.

“We’re hoping to amplify AFSC’s campaign here in Lancaster,” Lowing said. “Out of respect for the loss of human life.”

For more information about the vigil or to keep track of the Iraqi causality count, visit the Web site at afsc.org/3000.


Carla DiFonzo’s e-mail address is cdifonzo@lnpnews.com.