Sheehan's supporters gather

The candle on my front stoop is still burning with a strong clear flame. It's a good omen. You never know with seven day candles anymore. For one thing, they never really burn for seven days and sometimes the wax doesn't burn well and it drowns itself out.

Across the country, tens of thousands of Americans joined together to hold vigils. Maybe a few more paid their own private tribute as I did. In Crawford they read aloud the names of soldiers who died in Iraq. They lit candles, they sang hymns, they cried but they felt the light of 60,001 candles.

"One of the things about Camp Casey is that I came here angry, a lot of people come here angry, but it's replaced by the feeling of hope," Sheehan said. "A feeling of hope we now have that we can change the country."

They already have.