Chapter VIII
"LET IT BE REMEMBERED, not on a concept of patriotism that calls them to silent acquiescence in a policy that they detest, but rather to the call of the patriotism of Camus, who would have us love our country for what it ought to be, and of Carl Schurz, that mugwump dissenter from McKinley Imperialism, who proclaimed, 'Our country, right or wrong, when right to be kept right, when wrong, to be put right'."
The crowd erupted in applause as Senator Frank Church of Idaho, a long time opponent of the Vietnam war made his point. Mattie looked around her in awe at the sea of people, of every age, and every race - reaching as far as the eye could see, and she huddled with Clay on the cold November day as the Senator continued his passionate speech in front of the Peace Corps Building on Twentieth Street NW. She could never have envisioned what she'd witnessed during the day, the sheer number of people, the impassioned speakers, the determination of the protesters to march in peace, and she took it all in, proud that she had the right as an American to stand up for what she believed.
"It's in that spirit that I am participating today, that I know you are participating today, in this nationwide call to the government to take note of the feelings of millions of Americans who want this War ended and want American troops withdrawn, and they're acting in the best tradition of a free people, by making their views known to the government and I think, perhaps, in such numbers that even the government may hear."
The crowds of protesters, many with their children on their shoulders, waved their American flags above their heads, and Mattie and Clay joined in, clapping enthusiastically and cheering as Senator Church concluded his heartfelt speech and left the stage.
As some of the crowd headed off in another direction to hear speakers scheduled at different locations, Mattie and Clay stopped to talk to another couple, who had driven to D.C. from across the country to make their voices heard. Learning from them that there was a concert in a couple of hours not far from the White House, they decided to make that their last stop for the day, and Clay picked up the wheelchair he'd propped against his leg, and they walked hand in hand toward the venue, which they estimated to be less than a mile away.
"Clay, we've heard so many wonderful speeches today...Senator Church, Coretta Scott King, George McGovern. I'll be replaying their key points in my head for days." Mattie gazed around her and saw another wave of protesters join their group as they headed toward the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. The camaraderie among the incredible mass of people was something to behold, in her opinion.
"I feel such a sense of pride, you know, Mattie?" Clay shook his head. "This is how our country works. People letting their views be known. It's all reached a critical point, in my opinion."
"I think I need the chair for a while, Clay." She'd been glad that for most of the day, she'd stood and walked to the different federal buildings where many of the speeches were held, but the aching in her leg had gotten worse, and she decided that it was time to give it a rest.
Clay unfolded the black wheelchair, and she sat, down, immediately feeling slightly claustrophobic being so low down in the close crowd, but she smiled up at him as he hoisted the khaki backpack on his other shoulder.
"If you need me to push you, it's not a problem. Just let me know." Clay smiled down at her as she adjusted her boots on the metal footrests, and rearranged her shoulder bag, tucking the cane and flag at her side.
"I'm fine right now, but I may take you up on that offer after a while," she laughed as she rested her gloved hands on the large metal rear wheels and began to push them forward. "It's been a long time since I've done this."
She found that her gloves helped with the traction, and she maneuvered the chair through the crowd at least half of the way before she relented and asked him to take over.
As they neared the Mall, they found that it was impossible to get anywhere near the stage, so they stayed back and watched what they could. Mattie stood up and held Clay's arm as they watched Pete Seeger take the stage, and begin to sing John Lennon's song, Give Peace a Chance.
"Are you listening, Nixon?" Seeger shouted after the first verse, and the crowd erupted in cheers. Peter, Paul, and Mary joined him on stage and they continued the song.
"Are you listening, Pentagon?"
Mattie's heart swelled with pride and tears came to her eyes as she and Clay joined the hundreds of thousands of Americans pleading for peace, and the crowd swayed together en mass as they sang along with the chorus.
It would be a moment she would never forget, a moment when she knew she was doing the right thing, and now, she could never turn back.