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The 32nd Annual Feast of the Holy Innocents, at STRATCOM
Names of people in photo: (LtoR) – Ed Bloomer, Gil Landolt, Elaine Wells, Mark Welsch, Denny Davis, Michael Brennan, Jerry Ebner, Fr Jim Murphy, Mike Sprong and Dagmar Hoxsie Photo by Frank Cordaro
The 32nd annual Feast of the Holy Innocents Retreat and Witness at STRATCOM was a low key affair by an measurement, never breaking the double digit mark until our closing ceremony on Tuesday Dec 28th when 11 folks showed up. It began with a reading of the Gospel of Matthew's Christmas narrative at noon on Monday, Dec 27th at the main gate of Offutt AFB in Bellevue NE, just south of Omaha. Offutt is the home of STRATCOM. The most dangerous place on the planet. http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8810 http://www.resistinc.org/newsletters/articles/stratcom-nebraska After the reading of Matthew's Christmas narrative we got in our cars and re- gathered in the basement of St John's Church on the campus of Creighton University. We spent the next 22 hours renewing old friendships, building links of solidarity and community with each-other, telling stories of Christmases passed and reflecting on the meaning of it all - in our personal lives and in the nation we live. Meals were prepared by folks at the Omaha CW. Mass was celebrated by Fr Jim Murphy on Tuesday a.m. in the basement chapel at St John's right before we headed out to the base. After Mass we returned the the main entrance of Offutt AFB for our annual presence. It was a simple, poignant, very humble, seemingly unnoticed presence. Given the reality of what takes place at Offutt and the mission of STRATCOM - our efforts surely felt pathetic. Not much different from the impression the first Christmas made on world scene. Yankton CWer Mike Sprong began with reading Mathew's Christmas story, than sharing how this years Feast of Holy Innocents Witness marked the 30th Anniversary of his first act of civil disobedience by his crossing the line at Offutt in this very spot on Dec 28, 1980. Mike said he was one of the youngest people gathered at Offutt in 1980. He was also the youngest person gathered this year at the base.... The whole effort at the gate took no more than 20 minutes, most of which was captured in the two below video links. 8 1/2 min Video - Mike Sprong reading the Mathew Christmas Text, than sharing how this years Feast of Holy Innocents witness at Offutt marked the 30th Anniversary of his first act of civil disobedience by crossing the line at Offutt on Dec 28, 1980. This clips ends with Fr Jim Murphy's brief comments. Video by Mark Welsch - NFP Omaha coordinator. : http://www.facebook.com/NebraskansforPeace#!/video/video.php?v=490360528489 7 min Video - Elaine Wells, Dagmar Hoxzie, Denny Davis share briefly and close witness with singing Christmas carols. Video by Mark Welsch - NFP Omaha coordinator. : http://www.facebook.com/NebraskansforPeace#!/video/video.php?v=490371988489 Link to 7 photos taken by Mark Welsch - NFP Omaha coordinator. http://www.facebook.com/NebraskansforPeace#!/photo.php?fbid=10150093262494241&set=a.10150093262319241.268567.118178884240&pid=5668448&id=118178884240 For more information contact: Frank Cordaro, Or Jerry Ebner, |
