Local youth registers as
a Conscientious Objector

By Shawn Gaynor

Asheville, NC, Jan. 9(AGR)— Cyrus Sipp, a senior at Mountain Heritage High School in Yancy county, held a press conference today to declare his opposition to war and to register as a Conscientious Objector with the Selective Service Act.

"I would like to thank you all for coming to support me. Today I am registering for selective service. Since my conscience objects to killing someone, I am registering as a Conscientious Objector," said Sipp. "The reason is to state to Selective Service that I am a Conscientious Objector and to let young people know their are other options to military service."

His father, Peter Sipp, who was on hand as one of the roughly 40 people out to support Cyrus’ decision, said "I know when I was 18 years old I had not heard about Conscientious Objector (status) so I was forced to do military service. Where very proud of Cyrus. It’s the thing to do, because to be violent just brings back violence."

During the event, the North Carolina Peace Coalition presented him with a certificate of achievement, and the Celo Friends Meeting of Yancy County extended him their official congratulations and support.

Also in attendance were members of the Peace Resource Service, a local group that has been established to help spread the word about Conscientious Objector status.

"All day today as I was thinking of your brave act the phrase that has been going through my mind is ‘the heros of a warless world are the men and women who refuse military service.’ I think Albert Enstien said that and I think we should all pay atention," said renowned local peace activist Clare Hanrahan.

For more information on Conscientious Objector Status, contact The Peace Resource Service at (828)675-1792 or Move-On: <www.moveon.org/moveonbulletin/bulletin6.html>