While not present in the flesh, the spirit of Gene Stoltzfus was in evidence at the recent trial of the “Creech 14” in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Gene was a supporter of those arrested on April 9, 2009, after entering the Creech Air Force base at Indian SpringsNV in an attempt to hand deliver a letter to the base commander.  The letter expressed concerns about the use of drones for surveillance and combat to hunt down and kill people in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other lands.  Gene carried a personal interest in this issue, having visited Pakistan earlier in 2009, hearing stories from people related to victims of drone attacks.  Gene had planned to come back to Nevada for another week of witness at Creech in April of this year, but he died of a heart attack several weeks earlier.

The  14 activists had their day in Clark County Court on Tuesday, September 21.  Representing themselves pro se, they called three expert witnesses:  former U.S. Attorney Ramsey Clark, Colonel Ann Wright, and Professor Bill Quigley. After stating at the opening that the defense could only discuss matters related to the charge of misdemeanor trespass, Judge William Jansen nevertheless allowed each of the expert witnesses to testify at length, weaving together the justification of necessity making it not only a right but sometimes a duty to engage in trespass, with the Nuremburg principles and issues of international law as it relates to targeted killing.

After a moving closing statement by defendant Brian Terrell, Judge Jansen, obviously affected by the testimony, stated that given the important issues raised, he would need several months to study the matter before he would give a written decision.  After consultation with the defendants, the date for the return appearance in court was set for January 27, 2011.  The defendants and supporters applauded when Judge Jansen left the courtroom saying “go in peace.”  My eyes flowed tears of joy.  I felt the spirit of Gene Stoltzfus hovering.

In the celebration which followed this inspiring morning, the community of witnesses and supporters included a time for sharing memories of Gene.  Judy Homanich, one of the Creech 14, had prepared beautiful bookmarks with a photo

of Gene and these words from one of his letters to the CPT community:

“With you I have lived out my deepest convictions in the great experiment of love-making on this planet.  As I go, I will hold you in prayer, in that spot where the mystery of the universe holds us all together in a unity of purpose and imagination…” Thank you, Gene.