day of prayer

Along the fence of Marble Collegiate Church on 5th Avenue. Gold ribbons represent prayers for the American soldiers who died in Iraq since the war began in March four years ago. The blue ribbons are for the Iraqi casualties. The green ribbons represent prayers for peace. Photo taken 3/23/06.


The death toll for American soldiers in Iraq is now over 3,200, twenty of which are from the beginning of this month alone (and the month began only seven days ago). The number of Iraqi civilians killed is much higher, estimated to be over 60,000.

On this holy week of Passover and the Triduum, when the energy of prayers throughout the world rises as people come together and pray in groups, may the prayers for peace and for understanding, the prayers of grief and of pain, transform us all.

In case you cannot read the name tags in the above photo, the legible words are:
- "Pfc. Darrien A. DeBlanc -- 20"
- "Sgt. Dave Stensma -- 36"
- "Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray -- 19"