After River (30 page)
Authors: Donna Milner
Atwood Weekly
September 30, 2004
Monument to American Draft-Dodgers Sparks
Cross-Border Controversy.
Nelson City Council has passed a resolution to announce its non-involvement in the proposed memorial to Vietnam War resisters.
This small West Kootenay town, until now better known for its pristine surroundings and alpine ski slopes, has become the recipient of insults and threats of boycott from enraged Americans.
The privately-funded monument was conceived to pay tribute to the approx. 120,000 Americans who fled to Canada between 1964 and 1977. The proposed bronze sculpture would depict two Canadians holding out their hands in welcome to an American draft-dodger.
âThis will mark the courageous legacy of Vietnam War resisters and the Canadians who helped them resettle in this country during that tumultuous era,' an organizer of the project said.
Since the announcement, the city of Nelson has been blasted with a deluge of e-mail from outraged Americans promising to boycott the area. One enraged writer from Knoxville, Iowa called Canada a country of âcowards', and wrote, âWe are smarter than you are, tougher than you are, and we will kick your inbred asses.'
The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, John Furgess, has urged President Bush to express his displeasure over the proposed memorial, calling it a âtribute to cowards'.
Not all communications were negative. Many writers expressed encouragement for a monument to men of peace, and drew parallels between the Vietnam War and the current events in Iraq.
Project organizer Isaac Romano said in a press release Monday that for now the project was on hold.
In a separate press release the city of Nelson distanced itself from the issue. âThe city's involvement,' said one council member, âwould spell certain economic disaster for members of our local business community that trade with or rely on American tourist dollars.'
A warm April wind drifts north across the Canada/US border. A gentle air stream lifts and carries it through the forests and valleys of the Cascade Mountains. In the town of Atwood, a swirling dust devil topples a child's empty milk container. The child watches unconcerned as the small plastic bottle is carried away, turning end on end, across the schoolyard.
The wind rises and changes direction. It blows south again, swirls around mountainsides, through trees and meadows, until it touches down on a small alpine lake. The still water begins to ripple as the wind skates across the surface. Leaves rustle in the tree at the water's edge. White apple blossoms lift and swirl, then fall gently towards the ground. Like snow they land upon the heads and shoulders of the brother and sister standing hand in hand beneath the branches. At their feet, at the base of the tree, is a newly-laid bronze plaque. The raised letters read:
Â
IN MEMORY OF RICHARD ADAM JORDAN
âRIVER'
1946â1968
âAND GREAT IS THE MAN WITH THE SWORD UNDRAWN'
I wish to acknowledge the many people who have shared this journey with me. To those who were with me from the beginning and those I have met along the way. I extend my deep gratitude. In particular my dear friends Verena Berger and Joyce Aaltonen who were there from the very first tentative steps. Thank you both for patiently reading or listening to draft after draft and then having the grace to call it a privilege.
Thanks also to my daughter Tanya LaFond, son Aaron Drake, sister Diane Jonas, mother Gloria Jonas, as well as Kim Corless, and Leanne Schultz. You all in your own way helped to keep me on the path that would lead me to the door of Gregory and Company. My thanks to all the good people there who welcomed me in, especially Jane Gregory, and Emma Dunford. Thank you Emma for reading your slush pile and for your positive and professional guidance through the edits.
Finally, to my husband Tom Milner, who first opened the door and outed this closet writer. Thank you for your unwavering faith and encouragement. I love you. You are my constant beacon home.
Â
Donna Milner
DONNA JONAS MILNER
was born in Victoria, British Columbia, and raised in south Vancouver. Before becoming a full-time writer, Milner worked as a real estate agent for nearly twenty-five years. She lives in central British Columbia with her husband.
After River
is Milner's first novel. She is currently at work on her second.
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Jacket photograph © Joshua Sheldon/Getty Images
AFTER RIVER
. Copyright © 2008 by Donna Milner. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub Edition © MARCH 2008 ISBN: 9780061856488
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