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On November 18, 2001, Mike Pasquale (long-time member of CNY SOA Abolitionists)
and I joined an affinity group from Chicago to march in funeral procession up
to the gates of Ft. Benning. We whitened our faces, put on black shroud-like
cloaks and carried “coffins” to memorialize the thousands of dead
and disappeared people of Latin America, many killed by SOA graduates. We were
helped in our preparations by Julienne Oldfield, another comrade from Syracuse,
who with gentle and competent hands transformed us and others into a dramatic
and moving image.
Mike and I walked and “died” separately, surrounded by our friends
from Chicago. We met again about 2 1/2 hours later, each having decided not
to cross onto the base with the Chicago group. We walked up to look at the gloriously
decorated fence. We noted the path the crossers had taken onto the base. I looked
at Mike and asked, “Shall we do it?” He said yes.
We spoke with Nancy Gwin, a fellow Syracusan working as a Peacekeeper at the
fence. Nancy walked with us up to the fence and guided us as we went alongside
it, across a gully, and around the edge onto the base. Nancy’s voice was
like a loving hand, the encouragement even more effective coming from a voice
from home.
We were met by about 10 soldiers who processed us and put us on a bus to join
those who had crossed earlier.
My question to Mike and his answer to me were deceptively simple and straight-forward.
We each had a five-year ban and bar letter issued when we crossed last year.
With those letters in effect the outcome of this year’s foray is still
unknown. In previous years the Army’s decision about whether to prosecute
has seemed arbitrary.
The decision to cross must be individually made, hopefully with thoughtfulness.
For me, part of that decision depends on the presence (in mind or body) of people
who care for me and about me. My choices this day were good. Thanks to all who
helped.
—Rae Kramer