50 years ago this evening

Thought for the day

Fifty years ago this evening, Richard Nixon announced his plan to activate mines off the North Vietnamese coast as a way of limiting the delivery of weapons and food to forces in the south.  

Days later, approximately 1,000 protesters quietly met on the steps of the U.S. Capitol (at 7 a.m. Washington time) as the president's order was simultaneously being carried out half way 'round the world.  My boss back then, the late Rep. Don Edwards, was one of the featured speakers that morning.  

In case you are wondering, the answer is yes.  That would be me in both photos below.  First, standing two rows in front of Sen. Ted Kennedy who died in 2009; and second, helping to hold up the "Stop the War" sign.  

Sadly, in the Kennedy photo, my friends Alan Parker on my right and Edie Wilkie in front of Alan also have passed away.  I dare say all four would have been horrified to witness the Jan. 6 insurrection that took place on the same steps where we peacefully stood in 1972.        

If you have a story you'd like to share about those days, feel free to post it here.  If not, then I hope you’ll enjoy celebrating Mother's Day with your family.  As always, take good care.

-DF