A meditation and memorial will be held in honor of Nicholas Berg, the local man whose murder by Iraqi insurgents was broadcasted a year ago, on Saturday, May 7. The event will be held outside of the court house at High and Union Streets from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Chester County Peace Coalition holds these meditations weekly, and they are usually an hour-long silence.However, this event will be longer, and members are welcome to speak if they feel the need.The event is being held inhonor of Nicholas, but coordinator Karen Boter said, “We are doing this for his father [Mike Berg]. Mike is an active member of our community and the coalition.”
M. Berg insists that although he is against the war, he wants this service to be held in the way that his son would have wanted. “Nick supported the war and the President. He thought he was doing the right thing by going over there,” said Boter. “In honor of that, we do not want this to turn into an anti-war rally. We ask that there be no protestors or signs.”
N. Berg went over to Iraq as a volunteer. He was not a soldier but a contractor who was there to help Iraqis have a better life. Before he went, he was a pillar of the West Chester Community. Those who knew Nick thought of him as “funloving,” “smart” and “always there to help,” said Boter. “I respect anyone who goes over to Iraq and tries to help. He was a good man,” said West Chester resident Ray Gothie.