May 25, 2017
Honor the Dead, Heal the Wounded & Stop the WarsMemorial Day Ceremony Sunday, May 28th 4:30 PMUnitarian Universalist Church of Tucson, 4831 E. 22nd St., Tucson, AZ 85711The Tucson chapter of Veterans for Peace will host a Peace Oriented Memorial Day event Sunday, May 28th, at 4:30 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson, 4831 E. 22nd St. in Tucson. The public is invited to join in the reading of the names of soldiers who have died in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere who were from southern Arizona. There will be an open mic for veterans or family members who would like to talk about the impact of war on themselves or their families. Audience members will be invited to read a few letters written by veterans to their friends who’s names are listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.Buzz Davis, who was trained as an Army infantry office during the Vietnam Era, will moderate the event which will be followed by a pot luck supper in the church. After the supper there will be a presentation of the centuries long efforts to fight only “just” wars and to work for peace instead of war. The group discussion will be on the topic of “How might we move our Nation from being a Nation of war to a builder of peace?”Davis said, “Join us Sunday for a family oriented Memorial Day event. Most veterans who served in wars, especially combat vets, usually do not speak much about the horrors of war. Thus family, friends and our society are not helped to understand war from the soldiers' perspectives Our understanding of war is highly influenced by books and war movies which usually avoid the terror and reality of war and the lifelong effects of war upon those involved. The result is -- our history is full of our politicians plunging us into war after war after war.The politicians do not fight in the wars, and usually their family members don't either. Today with the "all volunteer" military and no draft, most families can forget about the present wars.”The themes for the open mic session will be:1. What do we, as citizens, need to do NOW to promote peace and justice in this world?2. How can we work to prevent more wars?3. Did your relatives or friends, who served in wars, ever talk about them? How did the war impact their lives and your life?Event is co-sponsored by Veterans for Peace Chapter 13 Tucson, World Beyond War, The World Can't Wait and The Nuclear Resister of Tucson. Contact Davis at 608-239-5354 or dbuzzdavis@aol.com
Humans Have Done Too Much Killing, Try Peace Now Before It's Too Late!
by Buzz Davis
We approach Memorial Day honoring the ultimate sacrifices made by 1.4 million American military men and women who died in America’s wars since 1775. We must discuss the horrific impact of war on surviving soldiers and civilians. For only they can teach us working for peace is a better option than fighting wars.
Each death in war brings everlasting tragedy to a family.
Each death damages the hope of loved ones.