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Eyes Wide Open Across Pennsylvania

The Fall 2006 Tour

Lycoming College and Williamsport Giant Plaza
Williamsport, PA, October 13-14, 2006

By Jane Keller, volunteer

Most of the visitors to the exhibit on this day were Lycoming College students, faculty, and staff, many of whom stopped in on their way to classes or jobs.  At one point, a group of young women students passed by, seemingly disinterested, until they caught sight of the baby shoes, which represented Iraqi youth killed by the war. They stopped in their tracks, exclaiming in dismay, “Oh my god, look at the children!”

A volunteer listener spoke about a housekeeping employee who had spoken at length about her son, who wanted to enlist.  He had been promised $20,000 after finishing boot camp, plus tuition benefits and other rewards.  Our volunteer suggested she contact AFSC for the true facts about enlisting. (When the recruiter visited campus, the volunteer distributed the AFSC pamphlet entitled, “Do You Know Enough to Enlist?”).

One viewer, whose father is in the National Guard, took pictures of the exhibit to share with her family.  “It is very moving, very real,” she said.

A woman who worked as a grocery store cashier arrived at the exhibit and was stressed because her daughter wanted to enlist.  I tried to reach out to her and explained what I could.

An elderly woman from the VFW came along and brought little flags, like the ones that stand up in the boots, to hand out to passersby.  We had numerous "drive-bys" there, but again, not much verbal feedback when I was there. I could not estimate for you how many people were present but the parking lot was a very busy place

Sponsors: Pennsdale Friends Meeting, Lycoming College Anthropology, Art and Education Department, Lycoming County Peace Campaign

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