Veterans Day Actions
Boston, MA
Congratulations to the Boston Veterans Day 18 for a great action
today. We stood peacefully with gags over our mouths and signs saying
"American Legion SILENCES messages of peace from veterans". since they
refused our request to have Iraq veteran Liam Madden speak. 18 of us
were arrested by the Boston Police and charged with disturbing a public
assembly, which we were definitely not doing. We were completely
silent and peaceful. The 18 arrested are in the To list of this email
and include Dick Smith's wife Ann as well as Arthur Brien 978-686-4418
who does not have email. 15 of the 18 are veterans and 3 of them are
women.
Getting
arrested along with 92 year old Paul Brailsford (who managed to get the
plastic cuffs off in the police wagon!!), 80 something year old Sev
Bruyn, 76 year old Tony Flaherty was a privilege that I have trouble
expressing. Seeing these guys in cuffs was just such an inspiration.
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> view youtube video from Keith Olbermann's show
St. Louis, MO
The Don Connors chapter 61 in St. Louis, MO and a delegation from the Columbia MO chapter fielded fifteen veterans to march with a brace of VFP banners a-flyin' and Woody Powell's Prius with magnetic VFP panels on the doors in the downtown St. Louis Veterans Day Parade for the first time ever. We were sandwiched between a pair of Army Humvees in camo and about thirty Patriotic motorcycle riders toward the end of the parade.
Reception was surprisingly positive all along the route. Even a few uniformed soldiers gave us the peace sign as we passed and many, many people clapped for us. There were no negative incidents to report. Our stark black and white banners, flanking a single American flag contrasted favorably with the rampantly-expressed, somewhat feverish patriotism that abounded around us with Old Glory do-rags, brass-bedecked leathers, MIA-POW banners, masses of flags and ROTC cadets doing thier self-conscious best to stay in step.
Afterwards we potlucked at the Friend's Meeting House, discussed strategy and tactics, and wound up the evening attending a play sponsored by the Don Connors chapter about a returning Iraq vet suffering from PTSD. The proceeds, after expenses, go to the Iraq Water Project to buy more water purification units being distributed to hospitals in Iraq.
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Albany, OR
I am happy to report a positive situation here in Oregon. Although the Veterans Commemoration Association (the sponsors for the local parade) don't reach out to us (they don't send me the application, place us near the end of the parade, etc.), we are allowed to march in their parade which is described as the biggest Veterans Day Parade west of the Mississippi. The parade rules state: "Entries advocating, opposing or depicting any politically or socially controversial issues will not be allowed in the parade. Any entry seen doing this along the parade route will automatically be escorted off the route at the next cross-road by committee members or police." We didn't let that stop us from holding "War is not the answer" "Vet care not warfare" and similar signs, peace dove puppets and peace symbol flags as well as our VFP banner and flag. This is the third year that our chapter has participated in the parade, and this time I didn't see any negative reactions-the response has become increasingly more positive in these three years. This year we also had a special guest marching with us-Elizabeth Kucinich!
Eugene, OR
Veterans For Peace Chapter 929 from Eugene Oregon marched in the Lane County Vets Day Parade in neighboring Springfield Oregon. The small contingent on foot and bicycle was followed by their 35' bus with the words "STOP THE WAR", and "Veterans For Peace" in large letters on it. The local Code Pink with two Vet members applied to march as well, and was approved. Both groups participated with no objectionable restrictions imposed, without incident, and to very warm public applause. Other Veteran participants were also very friendly.
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Atlanta, GA
We complied strictly with the stipulations laid on us by the Georgia Veterans
Day Parade Association of Atlanta, which included no float and no signs and
banners; VFP and US flags only. It was very difficult negotiating our
acceptance into the parade after being initially denied and we were only
narrowly voted in at the last hour by the Veterans Day parade committee on the
condition that we adhere to the stipulations they issued. One of our members
did say he wouldn't march in the parade under those conditions, though he wasn't
opposed to our doing so. From my view, I felt it was better for VFP to be in
the parade under those conditions than to not be in the parade at all. Our
chapter president, 90-year George Sossenko, veteran of the Spanish Civil War and
World War II, wore his jacket from WWII with his captain bars and
medals.
The Grand Marshal of the parade was Lt Gen. Russell Honore,
commanding general, First Army at Fort Gillem. When we solemnly and silently
passed by the reviewing stand, all wearing black armbands, eyes straight ahead,
I heard a rustle and then an incredible thing happened. The members of the
reviewing stand all rose and...actually applauded! Additional applause came
from the surrounding onlookers. I thought maybe I was nuts and hearing things,
but I later asked my fellow VFP members if that really did happen and they said
that it did.
The photo below was taken by the Atlanta Journal
Constitution and is part of a photo show of the parade which can be viewed here: ttp://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/metro/1111parade/1.html
Auburn, WA
The turnout for the VFP group was down about fifteen from last year's but the good news was that we got surprise adoptees to march with us. I counted five assorted peaceniks who came to stand by us in protective support.
Another photo in my mind is a young father who held his homemade sign stating "GOD BLESS THE VETS" with a 5 year old boy following him holding a toy rifle with an American flag sticking out of the barrel. But once we got marching I was once again amazed by the quickflip from militant patriotism to support for our message. We had immediate applause which lasted throughout the march and many of the clapping hands belonged to middle-aged men in VFW and American Legion hats. I searched into the windows of the souls of those clapping and found many tears. We neared the risers wherein the military brass and elected officials stood and unlike last year we were not met with deafening silence from the emcee. This time we heard ourselves publicly honored. The emcee announced Veterans For Peace as a twenty-two-year old group committed to peaceful negotiations as an resolution to international conflict. That swelled my heart. We turned the corner to the end of the parade and as we stood on the sidewalk two reporters found us.
Santa Fe, NM
The Joan Duffy Chapter of Veterans for Peace, Santa Fe NM, hit a kind of trifecta on Veterans day with lead articles (with pictures) on chapter president, Daniel Craig, chapter founder, Ken Mayers, and a letter from the latter on preventing an attack on Iran. If interested, you can see them at the links below. In addition, Daniel and Ken were on KSFR's "Radio Café" on Thursday morning from 8:00 to 8:30 and on "Living on the Edge" on Veterans Day from 1:00 to 2:00pm. The chapter also had a strong and welcomed presence in the Santa Fe Veterans' Day Parade for the second year in a row, carrying the large chapter banner, several VFP flags, and a 10ft wide banner that read, "New Mexico Says Out of Iraq NOW!"
> read news article with Ken Mayers
> read news article with Daniel Craig
Washington D.C.
On November 11th (Veterans Day), Veterans For Peace chapter 016 (VFP) became the Delwin Anderson memorial chapter. Approximately 30 of us (including Delwin's wife and 7 other extended family members) attended the Veterans Day concert at the Kennedy Center. We were even listed on the Kennedy Center's playbill! Following the concert, a half dozen members attended a fund-raising cocktail buffet in support of the Iraq Veterans Policy Center. This initiative is being founded under the auspices of the DC chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War. You'll soon hear more of this project.
Portland, OR
There was no Veteran's Day parade in Portland, Or. Following the VFP-72 tradition of several years now, we celebrate Armistice Day with a small ceremony of VFP members which is open to the public. At 11:11 a.m. following taps a few VFP members speak followed by an open mic . This year the gathering was at the Park Blocks stage in front of Portland State University's Smith Hall. The opening speech, "Veterans for Peace", was given by our founding president, Grant Remington. This speech was also published in the opinion section of the Sunday Oregonian, our major local newspaper > read news article
This year following the solemn Armistice Day ceremony numerous events were open to the public organized in conjunction with local labor and peace organizations. The "Helmets to Hardhats" flyer is attached.
Oklahoma City, OK
This event in Oklahoma City was organized in about 24 hours. We intended for it
to be a press event, not a rally. We had 6 television stations, one radio
station, The Oklahoman, Associated Press, Associated Press photographer and one
other local print source attend and also had radio mention from several
stations. It was an incredible success. The two fathers that have lost their
sons to this immoral and illegal war are courageous for speaking out. I am
proud to have been able to help in making sure their voices are heard.
*photo from the Atlanta Journal Constitution
Sonoma County, CA
VFP Chapter 71, Sonoma County California marched Sunday in
the annual Veterans Day Parade in Petaluma, CA. There were nine of us from our
chapter, plus wives and girlfriends.
All was peaceful, but for one catcall from a "support our troops" type. Otherwise, no problems. Lots of applause from the public, which was very gratifying. Petaluma is a liberal town.
The other major town in Sonoma County is Santa Rosa, which is not as liberal. The annual parade there is in May, and is the Rose Parade. VFP, this past May, was relegated to the back of that parade and not allowed to march with the other veterans groups, because some Veterans For War did not see us as deserving of marching with other veterans.
Phoenix, AZ
Veterans for Peace Chapter 75 marched in the parade with the Eyes Wide Open display of boots with a floral "peace wreath" on the front part of the dispaly. About 30 members of VFP and the larger peace community walked behind the display in support of the veterans.
Madison, WI
Memorial Mile
We set up an "Arlington" (we called it "The Memorial Mile") for Veteran's Day, November 11. This is the first time we set this up and it went over very well. We had 4300 styrocore tombstones that stretched about .6 mile set up in a city park representing US killed in Iraq AND Afghanistan. There were five tombstones in each row. The Wisconsin casualties were marked with Wisconsin flags in order of their deaths. Each year was marked with a large sign as was the country. We had a ceremony with speakers and about 200 people showed up. We have no plans to set up another display but have lots of pictures and a video clip on our web site. A local public access channel filmed the entire ceremony.
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> view photo gallery
Philadelphia, PA
Veterans For Peace Southern New Jersey, Chapter 096, helped out at Philadelphia Veterans Day display of Arlington North.
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Ann Arbor, MI
Photos of the Arlington Michigan (one cross for every Michigan soldier killed in Iraq) display we had in Veterans Park on Vets Day from 11am until 4pm in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This park is on a corner that has some of the highest traffic counts in our county.
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Tucson, AZ
Members of Chapter 13, Tucson, AZ marching in the Tucson's 88th annual Veteran's Day Parade. Our President, John Miles is the tall lean guy.
Denver, CO
As most of you
know, we (VFP/IVAW/MFSO) were originally "disinvited" from the parade. We began to get some local press a few days before about our planned
counter-parade: passing out flyers ahead of the parade, protesting our exclusion. A couple of local TV news
pieces sympathetic to us (including, oddly enough, one on the local Fox outlet!) aired in the week
leading up to Saturday. Friday
morning I got a call from a friend, a Gulf War vet who is a parade
marshall, asking me to come to his office to meet with the City's VSO. Essentially, what happened is that the
Mayor's office saw a potential PR disaster looming (the Mayor is the official host of the parade) so the
City overruled the United Veterans Council and insisted that we be admitted with no restrictions. Our contingent included about
50 members, including five from IVAW with their banner leading us. We were
well received by a rather sparse crowd of spectators.
Now that we have
established our right to participate, there is some sentiment in our chapters
(Ch.79 Denver and Ch. 120 Boulder) to decline our invitation next year and hold an
alternative Celebration of Peace elsewhere in town on that day, maybe with a showing of "Sir, No Sir" But the showdown this year was fun!
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Miami, FL
Once again, members
of Democracy for America Miami-Dade, together with the Veterans for Peace Miami
chapter, hosted an amazingly moving and successful "Arlington Miami" memorial to
honor the sacrifice of United States troops who have fallen during the
occupation of Iraq.
Over Veterans Day weekend, the two groups set up close to three thousand memorial markers in downtown Miami's beautiful Bayfront Park. The highly visible venue provided the opportunity for thousands of citizens of Miami and tourists to stop and see the human cost the occupation is taking.
George Bush has declared the occupation of Iraq to be "the central front of the war on terror" but immediately after 911 asked Americans to sacrifice by going shopping. It is the intent of DFAM to bring to focus that what occurs daily in Iraq has very real costs that we must confront and debate in an intelligent way. To simply go shopping would be a disservice to the troops in Iraq and to the principles on which our country was founded.
O
ne such
cost was plainly present during the entire time the display was up as Carlos and
Melida Arrendondo stood vigil next to the grave marker for their son Alex, who
died in Iraq in 2004 at the age of twenty. The Arrendondos spent much of the
time, patiently, passionately, and with great dignity answering questions about
their son, and articulating the range of emotions they continue to go through
since they first heard the news of their son's
death.
Arlington Miami received plenty of media coverage, adding to the many mentions in the media this display has garnered over the three years that DFAM has been hosting it in Miami.
A short documentary of a previous Arlington Miami was made in October of 2006 and can be seen on Youtube.
On Monday November 12, 2007, Carlos and Melida Arredondo marched with Veterans For Peace at the Miami Beach American Legion/Veterans of Foreign Wars Parade. During the ceremony at the Courtyard of the old City Hall and current Police Station, the Arredondos received recognition and respect from City of Miami Beach officials and State Representative Luis Garcia.
San Francisco, CA
Members of San Francisco's VFP chapter not only marched in the Veterans Day parade, but announced it as well.
Northeast Ohio - Chapter 039
On Veterans Day (Sunday, November 11), the Northeast Ohio VFP chapter (#39)
read excerpts of letters home from U.S. veterans of various wars since the
Revolution. I have attached a copy of the final program. We also included short
quotes about war--and peace--in between the letters. (The letter by Alyssa, the
young girl whose father was killed in Kosovo, was read by a 16-year-old girl.)
At the end, one of our members, who is with the Cleveland Opera, sang Taps a
cappella.
It was an incredibly moving experience. One of our members, a WWII veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, wrote me a note saying that it was one of the "warmest, most moving experiences" of his 90+ years (I collected and edited the letters). Another said that he was never able to relate to all the "rah-rah garbage" in traditional Veterans Day celebrations, but now, he was able to finally, honorably, lay to rest all the ghosts that have been with him since he returned from Vietnam. The letters basically have two strongly antiwar "bookends," by Smedley Butler and Mary Powell. In between, they progress from personal honor during the worst of times to questioning to anger, loss, numbness, grief, and finally, a kind of redemption in Terry Bell's letter, and a "benediction" in the words of Nancy Griffiths. Terry, who is a member of our chapter, had just returned from Vietnam when the letters were read. We called him from the tent at the end of the program, and he was at The Wall speaking, along with Collin Powell.
> download pdf of sample letters
Broome County, NY
