Hour 19: 10:48 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22
The black-and-gold clad fans walk by the post office without noticing. Their adrenaline is pumping — they don’t read the beat-up poster board signs and don’t respond to the quiet have-a-nice-days from the people holding them.
The Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation doesn’t seem phased. They stand, chatting with each other, as they have for the past 28 years. They hold their vigils here every Saturday morning from 10 to 11, waiting for an end to war and violence abroad.
There are seven of them here today. All look to be in their mid-to-late 70s — gray hair, big sunglasses, windbreakers, visors. The youngest is Jeff Stack, a graying man in a True/False T-shirt who explains why they stand by the post office: “It’s as close to Washington as we can get.”
Their pale fingers wrap around white poster board signs. The text is written in black marker, in big block letters. They bear simple, direct messages — “STOP SELLING WEAPONS TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES” one reads. Each person is holding one, but there are more in a stack leaning against the building.
They say on game days they have more foot traffic. People continue to walk by, average pedestrians and the occasional person that is beaded, painted and black-and-gold.
“Have a great day,” Stack says.
“You too,” one responds.