Memorial Day Actions 2008
See additional photos on Flickr
Jersey City, New Jersey
Yesterday, May 26,2008, Memorial Day, there was a traditional Memorial Day
ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Pershing Field in Jersey City,
New Jersey.
This year's event was dedicated to our Past VFP National
President, Chapter 021 V.P. ,fellow VVAW Member and dear friend, David
Cline. Several VFP Chapter 021 members were present for this event, along
with other VFP & VVAW members from New York City, Rockland County, N.Y
and Washington, D.C. In addition, members of the Cline family including
Dave's parents, came down from the Buffalo, New York area to attend this
ceremony.
The highlight of this event was the unveiling of a stone in
honor of Dave in the Delayed Casualty Section of the Jersey City Vietnam
Memorial. This memorial to Dave is beautiful and I would encourage all
VFP 21 members and friends to make it a point to see it. Once again, I
would like to thank our members and friends who were present for their
support.
Peter Bronson brought a VFP flag and followed and stood with the color guard during the entire presentation. Thanks should be extended also to the entire VFP family who were not able to attend. Dave's good friend, Jaime Vasquez, did him and the veterans peace community proud with a dedication that Dave would have given if he were there.
Also, I had to leave early to attend another chapter function in Teaneck, N.J. where Chapter 21 was tabling at a street fair. It was a VERY busy day for our chapter. - Ken Dalton
Boston, MA
The Smedley Butler Brigade of Veterans For Peace organized a Memorial Day For Peace yesterday. Along with Iraq Veterans Against The War, Military Families Speak Out, and Gold Star Families For Peace we gathered at Boston Harbor. We had speeches by me, Gabriel Payan of IVAW, Melida and Carlos Arredondo (whose son Alex died in Iraq), and Joyce and Kevin Lucey (whose son was a vet suicide after being in Iraq). Then we read the names of the 80 Massachusetts soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, rang a bell, and dropped a flower into the harbor. We then had a bouquet for all the other Americans killed, a bouquet for all the Iraqis killed, a bouquet for all those who died later as a victim of war like vet suicides and Vietnamese who died from Agent Orange or Iraqis who die from exposure to depleted uranium weapons, and a final bouquet for all victims of war.
The ceremony was very wonderful and meaningful to all who took part. We
wanted to create our own event rather than try to get into somebody else's
event.
Pictures/Video: Go to http://smedleyvfp.org and click on photos on the left and
Memorial Day 2008 is the last one. Or you can go directly to it:
http://smedleyvfp.org/page2/page29/page29.html
The video clips require QuickTime. Click on the first picture to get a
manual slideshow.
Print press coverage: http://www.metrobostonnews.com/us/article/2008/05/27/03/2021-66/index.xml http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/05/27/rallys_veterans_activists_seek_to_avoid_glorifying_war/
Charlottesville, VA
Your new chapter 902 in central Virginia has been co-facilitating, for this important 3-day weekend, the EYES WIDE OPEN display [ http://www.afsc.org/eyes/ ] originated by the American Friends Service Committee. Each day, we have solomnly ranked the 117 pairs of combat boots representing Virginia's war dead, along with 50 pairs of civilian shoes representing the occupation's civilian dead, in the center of Charlottesville VA. Many heartbreaking and moving interactions with our fellow citizens, virtually all of whom have given us postive responses. Local Iraqui refugees joined us in reading names of the dead. The display was covered on regional TV as well.
Press Coverage:
http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?s=8372963
http://www.c-ville.com/index.php?cat=1991704080566501&act=post&pid=12032305084638711
My last noteworthy contact at this 3-day event occured Sunday, as we were
breaking down the last box of boots. An active duty infantry sergeant major
stopped off to view what we were doing. He was friendly toward our intentions,
and told me "we are fighting to insure that your freedom of self-expression at
display's like this one remains intact," or words to that effect. He told me he
was due to depart for his third tour in Iraq within the next 2 hours.
Respectfully,
Freeman Allan
Miami, FL
Neither ran nor wind will stop progressives from setting up Arlington Miami. And boy did it rain.
This Memorial brings the human cost of
George Bush's war front and center, reminding all those who pass by that the
unending occupation of Iraq has consequences in dollars as well as blood. Blood
of our soldiers, blood of countless civilians written off as collateral damage.
On Monday, May 26th (Memorial Day) at 6:30 pm, a candlelight vigil with
the names of the Florida fallen were read by veterans and anti-war congressional
candidates.
Co-sponsored by Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM)
Press Coverage:
www.cbs4.com/local/arlington.miami.biscayne.2.733209.html
http://cbs4.com/local/memorial.day.miami.2.733384.html
San Diego, CA
The San Diego Veterans For Peace held a Memorial Day Remembrance at the foot of the now docked USS Midway in downtown San Diego. Chapter members installed 500 crosses, each with a US flag, and also displayed VVAW, and IVAW banners and flags across the street. Friends and passersby read the names of each of the 4081 soldiers killed in Iraq to date. Two moments of silence were observed .... one at 10 AM and one at 3 PM. Two local TV stations produced excellent coverage of the event. - Gil Field President San Diego Veterans For Peace Hugh Thompson Memorial Chapter #91
Press Coverage:
http://video.nbcsandiego.com/player/?id=255717
http://www.kusi.com/home/19269399.html
LeHigh Valley, PA
Nineteen Ch. 152 members, supporters and associates participated in this year's Bethlehem Memorial Day parade and ceremony in Memorial Park cemetery. Our newest and oldest member, Max Snider, 93 year old WW II veteran, is seated in his wheelchair - right front.
Portland, OR
Veterans for Peace Chapter 72, Portland, Oregon commemorated Memorial Day, May 26, again at the "forgotten" walls of the Memorial Coliseum. This will be the fifth year that Veterans for Peace Chapter 72 has stepped away from the traditional militaristic ceremonies and rhetoric to honor their fallen brothers and sisters in arms, for as General Ulysses S. Grant, eighteenth President of the United States, said, "The one thing I never want to see again is a military parade." - Harvey Thorstad
Philadelphia, PA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpnWPmWIhHA
Santa Monica, CA
This was a ceremony held on May 25, 2008 in Santa Monica, CA to honor the over 4,000 American men and women who have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every Sunday the Arlington West people get up well before dawn and put out crosses and other symbols representing those who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. It takes hours to set up, and at the end of the day they take it all down and put it away. They do this every week! Yesterday there was a special ceremony because of Memorial Day. It was broadcast on KPFK radio here in Los Angeles and hosted by Lila Garrett. I thought I'd share some pictures from the event with you. - Marilyn
Brave New Films has some video here: http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/40121-arlington-west-arlene-inouye-of-cams (They are all worth watching, but please make sure you see Wendy Barranco who is exceptionally moving. It doesn't get more real than what she has to say. It's not easy to watch, but her message deserves to be heard.)
San Diego, CA
It was a wonderful day and a VERY rewarding display of Arlington West on the lawn in front of the Midway. We had lots of VFP folks and help from many people from all over. There was tons of positive feedback and we reached many people. The Navy had a problem with us putting banners and some crosses on THEIR lawn across the street from the main display but they came around after sincere negotiations. Please check out the next email for photos.
Thanks to Jan Ruhland for spearheading this project...and providing direction towards dealing with the Navy. Jan is, after all, a Marine Corps Veteran. What else would you expect? Thanks to one and all for your efforts. - Jim
Will Miller/Green Mountain Chapter
Memorial day "Where's the Rage!" celebration with Pat Scanlon and band (Smedley Butler) in Middlebury, Vermont, co- sponsored by WM/GM Chapter 57 VfP Photos by Larry Hamilton
Washington D.C.
The Delwin Anderson Memorial Chapter honored Memorial Day by participating in a two day festival in Vienna, Virginia. A booth was organized and set up by chapter members that prominently displayed the 37 Virginians killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The names, photos and hometowns of the fallen were were arranged along the cleverly designed walls of the booth. Mrs. Delwin Anderson visited the booth on may 25 and was very pleased and humbled by the effort that went toward presenting the chapter to the public. The entrance of the booth was adorned with pictures of Delwin Anderson and Robert Vandivier who also passed away in 2007.
Chapter members engaged passersby with invitations to play "Do you know how the government spends your money?" and "Do you know Nukes?" Players were presented with pocket Constitutions, VFP wristbands, bumper stickers and copies of "War is a Racket" as prizes for participating. A total of 40 signatures were received for a petition regarding VFP's presentation of grievances based on past VFP resolutions to the Department of Veterans Affairs. This was presented to Gordon H. Mansfield, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs by Elliott Adams on March 19, 2008. The letter attached to the materials requested that the VA review the materials and respond back to VFP with a list of proposed actions. No response was ever received and the petition calls on Secretary Peake to once again review the grievances.
A second petition to the American Veterans Center also received 40 signature demanding that the AVC apologize to the Delwin Anderson Memorial Chapter for its disinvitation to the National Memorial Day parade. This chapter has two remaining World War II veterans and being disinvited to the parade was a disappointment for them and Mrs. Anderson. However, an AP story on May 20 resulted in a "Progressive" magazine article and chapter vice president Michael Marceau was interviewed by 22 radio and 2 television programs from across the nation in a 10 day period.
Video of Michael at the parade and the joint interview with him and Michael McPhearson can be found at http://vfpdc.blogspot.com.
The response from VFP members, veterans at large and the general public to the chapter's disinvitation was incredible. Over 50 letters of support were submitted to Washington Post and the American Veterans Center. Additionally, hundreds of comments were submitted via online polls and news sites. The Washington Post Express online poll was the most popular with a total of 410 respondents to the question "Should VFP have been allowed to participate in the National Memorial Day parade?" 82% voted YES! The chapter is compiling all of this information and will work with others to help organize a strike team for future parade participation across the country. The chapter is most humbled to report that in the last two weeks 4 new members have joined. They were unaware of VFP until the story about the parade became widely known.
Press Coverage
http://www.examiner.com/a-1400834~Veterans_peace_group_blocked_from_parade.html
http://www.progressive.org/mag_mc052308
Bellingham, WA
The 2008 4th Annual Peace Arch Park display of the Arlington NW Memorial was a successful deployment thanks to the hard work of our brothers and sisters of Chapter 92 once again, not to mention delays to thousands of weekend travelers of over thirty minutes on the U.S.-Canadian border providing our captured audience.
As you may know, the display was laid out differently this year due to some new restrictions in the central mall area of the park, but we still deployed on both sides and up the grassy knoll to the American kitchen. Thanks and Bravo Zulu to all of the participants and our supporters.
If you are able,
save them a place inside of
you,
And save one backward glance for when you are leaving
for
the places they can no longer go.
Major Michael O'Donnell, January 1st, 1970, Dak To, Vietnam