We started our Memorial Day in the Plaza at 8:30 in the morning. A beautiful day with a warm breeze off the bay. We assembled our Memorial Wall bearing the 4593 names of the American military dead and POWs/MIAs in Iraq and Afghanistan under the periodic watchful eyes of the local police. We chose the southeast corner of the Plaza because we knew the three large oaks would provide us with daylong shade and natural beauty. Next to that we placed a coffin draped with the burial flag of a Marine PFC who died in combat in the Vietnam conflict in 1968. And, finally, a small memorial to William Healey, a homeless veteran of the Persian Gulf War era who had no family and committed suicide a year ago. Although he was not a combat fatality, he is a fallen warrior. We then spent a peaceful day sharing food and good company. Throughout the day, veterans and the families of veterans from WWII to the present conflict stopped by to pay quiet tribute to the fallen and to share stories and experiences. One young man who identified himself as a veteran of the Iraq conflict wanted to find the name of his best friend who had died there. Although he initially seemed somewhat suspicious of our motives, he gave this writer a hug when he left. He seemed to carry in him the pain that only those who have survived combat can know. It is our fervent hope that he find find peace and joy in his life. About noon the park began to fill and shortly the St. Augustine Jazz Society provided a free concert. As the concert ended in the late afternoon, people began to drift away. One couple stopped and silently left a single flower at the wall. We then slowly disassembled our display and left. We had what those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan never have - a peaceful day. Unfortunately, so many of those who have returned from our many wars still do not find that peace.

Following our sign posting crisis on 5/17, we spent 2 days on the phone and email with almost every city office, except solid waste disposal, regarding our intent to "post a sign" on Memorial Day. The sign was a "Memorial Wall" bearing the names of the military deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. The city attorney's office finally stated that as long as the sign was not left unattended and we did not put any holes in the ground and thereby possibly damage any "historically significant artifacts," we could put up our "sign." We believe that the "rules" for displaying a sign were made up by the city for the occasion - they didn't want to arrest or cite a veteran on Memorial Day for displaying a memorial honoring our war dead. However, the gate is open, let's see what comes through. As an aside to our day in the Plaza, Kings Scoops Ice Cream put an advertising sign in the Plaza that made holes in the ground and left it unattended. Someone notified two nearby bicycle officers who became upset and accused him of being loud and rude. After he insisted, they spent some 45 minutes on the radio and finally picked up the sign and returned it to the store. Could it be that the city has different enforcement rules for businesses than they do for people?