Soldiers' Vigil

Cars lined the sidewalks of North Jordan Avenue, candles lit the night sky and red, white and blue ribbons adorned students' shirts as a large group gathered Tuesday night in a vigil on the lawn of Phi Mu sorority. The group assembled to honor the troops still overseas and to create a memorial to those who gave their lives in the war with Iraq. \n"We decided to organize this event because we felt that the men and women overseas are doing a wonderful job defending our country and they need to be recognized for it." said senior Jamie Stone, a member of Alpha Gamma Delta and one of the coordinators of the event. "We also wanted a way to remember those that have been killed and injured in the conflict."\nSenior Corey Johnston, member of Kappa Alpha Theta, also helped plan the event. She said the event was created with the intention of bringing people from various parts of the campus and the community together for the cause.\n"We thought it would be a great way for the Bloomington community to come together and support the troops," she said.\nThe vigil, held at 8 p.m. on Phi Mu's front lawn, was sponsored by Phi Mu, Alpha Gamma Delta, and Kappa Alpha Theta.\nStone said many of her sorority sisters and other friends have been personally affected by the war in Iraq. "There are quite a few women in our various chapters that have friends and brothers overseas," she said.\nJohnston and her acquaintances also know people who have been sent overseas. \n"A few men from my hometown are in Iraq right now and several men that I know on campus are on high alert," she said. \nJunior Ryan Goldschmidt, president of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, said one of his friends is already overseas and many of his fraternity brothers are on alert. \n"I know somebody that's over there now," he said. "It's good that we came together to do something like this."\nThere has been much debate and protest against the war from students and community members alike, but the organizers of the vigil planned the event hoping that supporters and non-supporters alike would come.\n"I think it is very possible to support the troops without completely supporting the war," Stone said. "One can be against the underlying factors of the conflict but can be totally in support of the men and women that are risking their lives to protect us."\nGoldschmidt said it should make no difference whether a person is for or against the war. \n"At a service like this it doesn't matter whether you are for it or against it; there are valid arguments for and against," he said. "It just matters that we are here to support the troops that are over there."\nSome chapters have also come up with other ways of supporting the troops. \n"One woman has started a pen pal campaign in Alpha Gamma Delta," Stone said. "We send letters and her friend there passes them out to his friends so they know we are thinking and praying for them."\nGoldschmidt said he was happy he was able to do his part in supporting the troops. \n"This was long overdue," he said. "I was glad we were invited; there is a lot of support from the greek community."\nJones said she was extremely satisfied with the turnout at the vigil. \n"There were so many people there," she said. "Supporting out troops is something almost everyone can agree on and there was a definite outpouring of support. It was amazing"