Shed Light on US War Casualties

Code Pink: Women for Peace has organized a one-week vigil at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the evenings to draw attention to the late-night arrival of the most seriously wounded soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan. These soldiers – with shattered limbs, brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorders – are delivered to Walter Reed (and Bethesda Naval Medical Center) under cover of darkness, at 10 p.m. or later.

Code Pink believes the late-night arrivals are scheduled purposely to minimize public attention to, and knowledge of, the number of seriously wounded US soldiers returning from the war – consistent with the Bush Administration policy prohibiting the photographing of coffins arriving at Dover Air Force Base.

The vigil began Friday, March 25, and will run every night through Friday, April 1, from 9 to 11 p.m., at the North Gate of Walter Reed Army Medical Center (7200 Georgia Ave. at Elder Street NW). Bring candles, signs and banners that respectfully express support and concern. For more information, call Ann Wilcox at 202/441-3265 or Ellen Taylor at 202/270-1861, or send an e-mail.