CPTnet
January 13, 2004
IRAQ: Remembering George Weber at Al Wathba

by Peggy Gish

 About twenty-five Iraqis and internationals gathered at the Al Wathba Water
Treatment Plant in northern Baghdad, on a mild and sunny Jan. 10th, 2004.

CPTers came with an eight-person delegation to plant a memorial
commemorating the one-year anniversary of George Weber's death.
(He died in an automobile accident north of Basra, Jan. 6, 2003.) The
Iraqis were workers at the water plant, and included Layla Al Athary, the
engineer overseeing the treatment of the water. The sign planted on the
property read, "Tree of Life, in honor of George Weber, 1930-2003, CPT
volunteer, and CPT presence here during 'Shock and Awe' March-April, 2003."

     Cliff Kindy shared some of his journal notes from the time right after
George's death and some reflections on the activities we had here at the
plant before the war began. Then he read from his writings about when the
bombing of Baghdad began the early morning, March 20, 2003 and our team set
up the Peace Encampment at this site the next morning.

 I added some of my memories. Then Layla began to share. "Tell me, is the
war over? I don't believe it is. Look at what is happening in our
country. People are being killed every day. The common Iraqi person
doesn't know what decisions other people are making about our future. We
don't know what is going to happen to us. We feel very powerless. We are
hungering for the time when we can make decisions for our own country, and
when our children can live in a peaceful society. We are thankful for the
work of so many people coming to our country to work for peace, people like
George, people like you."

     Being there that day was like coming home for me, as I remembered the
death of our fellow CPTer and facing the possibility that thousands of
Iraqis and of our own team might die in the bombing. Our lives were linked
with George as well as with these people standing here with us.

 Our prayer then, was that the people of Iraq be spared this war, and our
prayer now is that this war be over. God, give us all courage and strength
so that we do not grow weary of clamoring for peace.