Matthis Chiroux flashes a sign of the times at the National Archives
(Photo: Elaine Brower / NLN)

WASHINGTON — Determined to demand the prosecution of George Bush and Dick Cheney for war crimes, I joined in with the Veterans for Peace in the long climb up the “scaffolding” on the façade of the National Archives building in Washington, D.C. On Friday night, November 14th, myself and Matthis Chiroux, member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, and a war resister who recently announced he will not deploy to Iraq and soon to be court-martialed, drove down to join the vets who were in the midst of planning our ascent and occupation of the National Archives the next day.

An interesting crew, made up of 7 veterans and yours truly, a member of Military Families Speak Out and World Can’t Wait, who really can’t wait for the war to be over since my son is on his 3rd tour and is currently stationed on the border of Syria, inside Iraq. Participants on the ledge were Elliott Adams VFP: 61, Sharon Springs, NY, VFP President and former Army paratrooper, Viet Nam; Ellen Barfield VFP: 52, Baltimore, MD, former Army Sgt.; Kim Carlyle VFP: 61, Buncombe County, NC, former Army Spec 5; Doug Zachary VFP: 58, Austin, TX, VFP staff, former USMC Lance Cpl.; Tarak Kauff VFP: 67, Woodstock, NY, former PFC, Army Airborne; Will Covert VFP: 63, San Diego, CA, VFP lifetime member, former E4 Navy; and Matthis Chiroux IVAW, 24, Army Sergeant, served in Afghanistan, refused deployment to Iraq.

Providing support on the ground were our good friends Mike Ferner VFP: 57, Toledo, OH, former Navy corpsman; Debbie Tolson VFP: 52, Potomac, MD, associate member of VFP; Michelle White MFSO, 24, Clarksville, TN, Military Families Speak Out, wife of Iraq war vet currently serving in Afghanistan; Michael Marceau VFP: 59, Rockville, MD, VP VFP Chapter 16, former Army, Viet Nam; Bruce Berry VFP: 62, Minneapolis, MN, former SPC 4 Army, Viet Nam; Fred Nagel VFP: 65, Rhinebeck, NY, former SPC 4 Army; Jay Wenk VFP: 82, Woodstock, NY, former rifleman, 90th Infantry Div., WWII; Tony Teolis VF.

Early Saturday Morning

We hitched a ride at 6:30 AM to our destination from a Washington, D.C. activist, and we were already tired and needing coffee. But determined to get there by 7:30 AM, we pushed on. Putting on hard hats as to look like construction workers, we walked through the 10 ft. high barriers that were erected right on Constitution Ave. in front of the Archives, where we entered and walked up to the first level, ground floor. All our gear in tow, including 2 banners, one 600 sq. ft. and the other 400 sq. ft., sleeping bags for our determined 2 day stay 90 feet above the ground, water, juice and other necessary equipment, we started the climb. First on a ladder, then up to the first level of scaffolding. Me, being a sedentary office worker by trade, could not imagine doing this climb and watching the agile vets jumping over bars and carrying packs weighing more than me (and that’s a lot), made me realize that I crossed over somewhere from activist to being just plain nuts! But, there I was, so not being the type to back out and run, I grit my teeth and climbed.

We had to weave in and out of poles and construction scaffolding, where the workers had left buckets and their tools in anticipation of coming back on Monday morning, not knowing there would be “visitors” over the weekend. Every level had another set of “stairs”, and I use that term loosely, since they were skinny rung ladders going straight up at a 90 degree angle. We were all wearing our uniform: ARREST BUSH sweatshirts in large white letters.

The climb continued for a good part of an hour, and we went up what felt to me like 100 ladders, but I think it may have only been 10. Good thing I am not afraid of heights, because the more I climbed, the smaller things became on the ground. And to make it worse, it started to rain, so the rungs were slippery and the smell of wet plaster hung in the air. We did have a great time, though. We laughed and talked most of the way up, but this was a serious mission, and I became part of our little platoon of those out to demand war criminals must be prosecuted.

View Photos/Videos From The Action…

After making it to the top, where the birds hung out since there was electric wiring there to stop them from nesting on the gargoyles, I felt relieved, but wondered if I would be able to make it back down! We got to work and found our stuff, planned more strategy and unpacked the main banner: DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION! ARREST BUSH AND CHENEY, WAR CRIMINALS!

That’s where I let the professionals take over. Elliott and Kim were expert climbers and had their gear on ready to make sure this banner not only got dropped, but was secured properly. They had ropes, pullies, clamps, bungi cords, and stuff I had no idea what it was. I took to the side and in amazement, watched them work. Never being in the military, I found it difficult to comprehend the discipline it took them, but marveled how they did it. Before we knew it, the banner was dropped, and the ground applause was heard. There were various TV stations there, and a videographer.

Across the park was a large demonstration of about 900 people, and some of the participants came over to tell us they could see the banner from 8 blocks away! Fantastic. We then took the other banner out: WE WILL NOT BE SILENT, and hung that on the other side of the scaffolding. The visual from the ground must have been stunning, it certainly was from the air.

Our work done, a sound system was set up and music along with speeches from Martin Luther King was blasted down upon the pavement. By this time the National Archive security was on full alert, watching up, straining their necks and their throats yelling profanities at us! They probably couldn’t figure out how we got passed them. The Metropolitan Police came by, and said no one would be arrested, and left just as quickly as they showed up.

What a day! Exhausting, exhilarating and the beginning of another movement to make sure that these war criminals do not go scott free. Radio stations were calling in and asking what we were doing, and that was the message they got, arrest Bush and Cheney, they are war criminals!

Unfortunately about 1:30 PM a strong gust of wind came and took the banner off its ropes, tearing it in half. The guards on the ground started laughing, but the vets, well prepared, repelled down and grabbed the banner to repair it for later. We still had our WE WILL NOT SILENT BANNER up, and later that night, the other banner was repaired.

At about 3:30 PM, I had been taking a nap (great action when you can sleep through part of it), the director of the Archives issued us an ultimatum “come down in 15 minutes, or everyone would be found, issued warrants, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law!” So we regrouped and discussed our options. First of all, if he was concerned about our safety, there was no way we could come down in 15 minutes, which would be the exact time he had to leave work for the day. Secondly, that power just didn’t exist, or so we concluded, although in our current police state, anything is possible, he had our names.

So I decided, along with Matthis, to descend and leave so as not to be hunted down with a possible warrant. When we conveyed that message, our director friend said “all or nothing”, so we said “nothing,” and continued with our action. Needless to say, he left frustrated and security worked overtime.

At 4:00 PM Matthis and I started reading the names of fallen soldiers in Iraq over the loudspeaker. We read for over 2 hours, and along the way, Matthis found out, as we sat on that ledge, that a buddy of his from basic training was killed. We were both struck with the deepest sadness and anger. It took him awhile to continue, but it also took a lot out of both of us. Those who were listening on the ground, stopped and you could see their expressions of shock, and confusion.

The weather continued being miserable, gusty, rainy, but occasionally the sun popped through. At one point, from atop our perch, we could see a rainbow appear in the sky above the Archives. This just added to the drama unfolding on our ledge.

That evening, I made a decision to leave my friends. I was cold, wet, tired, no more than anyone else, but most of all I think I was struck by immense sadness that my son was so far away in Iraq again and it was his birthday. Reading those names hit home for me, as it always does. Most killed were 18 or 19 years old, and when you read that, it opens a hole in your heart which creates the deepest pain imaginable. I could no longer bear it, and wanted to go home where I could sit in my son’s room and gain back some of my composure.

I made the descent at 7:15 PM, with Matthis. Elliott helped me down, and I love him for that. When we hit the sidewalk, it was like coming back from a trip at sea! We had 3 security guards staring right at us as we crossed back behind the large gates. They stared us down, but let us go, thankfully. I was in no mood to tangle with the law at that point, and they wouldn’t have been too happy with me either.

Our wonderful, courageous friends remained up there through the frigid night, and into Sunday, sending messages out to the world through webcasting. You can watch the archival footage at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/warcrimes.

I was torn that I hadn’t stayed with them, I guess a good soldier doesn’t leave his platoon, but as I said, I was never in the military. However, they were safe and if there had been danger, I would have given my all to stand with them. On Sunday, they did come down after the police went up the scaffolding to get them. But my friends, Vets for Peace, were not arrested. A real victory for them! And I am so proud to have participated, and deeply moved that I know these patriots who are committed not only to each other but to a cause that means something to all the people of the world.