Goodbye, Norb

We first met him on the corner of 125 South State Street – the home of our weekly peace vigil since October 2001. Norb faithfully sat at that corner each morning in his lawn chair with his sign that identified him as a veteran for peace. He stayed into the summer after the Iraq Invasion (2003) but then left for Vegas. What wonderful stories Norb told us and philosophies he shared. Truly an inspiration.

We last saw Norb a few weeks ago – end of March – at Poo-Ha-Bah – home of Western Shoshone Spiritual Leader Corbin Harney in Tecopa Springs, CA. He had taken a fall at the test site the day prior to coming to Poo-Ha-Bah, but otherwise seemed fine. He told us of the beautful flowers he had seen in Death Valley before he arrived there that day.

We will miss Norb. Tom and I are fortunate to have had him touch our lives. Thanks for everything, Norb.

Obituary:

Published April 08, 2005.

DROUHARD, LAWRENCE

Lawrence “Norb” Drouhard, a long-time international peace activist, died April 6, 2005, in Las Vegas. He was 80. Norb, a U.S. Army World War II veteran had been active in the anti-nuclear and peace movement since the 1980s, most recently attending this year’s Good Friday protest at the Nevada Nuclear Test Site. He had participated in peace marches in five continents including a march across the former Soviet Union in the 1980s. He is survived by his sons, James, David, Brian and Andrew; daughter, Elisa Drouhard Sargent; and nine grandchildren, all of Washington state. He was a member of Veterans for Peace and graduate of the University of Kansas. A memorial service will be at 7 p.m. Friday, April 8, at the Las Vegas Catholic Worker, 500 W. Van Buren Ave. Contact 702-647-0728.