Memorial Day Events 2010
New York, NY
Santa Fe, NM
Statement by Ken Mayers
Good morning, friends. It is indeed both an honor and a privilege to be standing before you sharing the lectern with one of my favorite fellow agitators, Reverend Holly Beaumont.
Tomorrow is Memorial Day in the United States. It is a day marked by a great deal of flag waving and speeches in honor of those whose lives have been taken whenever our government has seen fit to sacrifice them. We rightly grieve for the dead and their survivors. We bow our heads in sorrow.
But I would suggest that when we raise our heads, we consider a broader horizon.
At the opening of this service we sang one of my favorite hymns, one that always brings tears to my eyes and, I happen to know, to Reverend Beaumont’s eyes as well. Among those moving lyrics are these: “… but other hearts in other lands are beating with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.”
That is the sense that prompts these reflections. That and two of the UU principles that are particularly relevant when considering the cross-generation effects of war: the second principle – Justice equity and compassion in human relations; and the seventh principle – respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
The meditation poem that we heard moments ago is a testament to the ongoing effects of the second world war, the so-called “good war” and the impact of our technological response on generation after generation.
In it she asks the question: “What stories were silenced, and why and from whom?” Several phrases from her plea particularly struck me: “The truth must be told/From the people who lived it.
Look again at that picture of Beate and her daughters for a moment.
It is easy to think of them as part of your own family or of mine. In one sense, for Beate and her family, as for many others, World War II has never ended.
Similarly, our more recent debacle in Vietnam goes on and on – a particularly vivid illustration of the effects of war across generations.
I recently spent 10 days in Vietnam as part of a delegation of American veterans documenting the continuing impact of Agent Orange on both the people and the land of Vietnam. Although I was the only UU in the group, we were all there seeking justice, equity, and compassion for fellow human beings and healing for that part of the interdependent web that has been so disrupted by the 20 million gallons of dioxin-containing herbicides we dropped on Vietnamese land and people between 1961 and 1970, claiming an estimated 20 million casualties.
Beate’s poem asks that truths be told
So my children can play
Splashing and laughing as we tend to our gardens
Beneath the loving gaze of our sacred mountains.
I imagine that all of us can identify with that feeling. Certainly I can. Here are my granddaughters and my sacred mountains.
But carrying on the theme of our opening hymn, there are other mountains as sacred as ours.
This is the A Shau Valley in Vietnam. Instead of a river, the famous Ho Chi Minh Trail runs through it.
In the shadow of those sacred mountains live the counterparts to Beate and her daughters.
Instead of radioactive fallout that threatens their health, it is dioxin, said to be the most toxic chemical human being have ever produced, raining from the sky as a byproduct of the herbicide, Agent Orange. The small Special Forces air base at A Shau is especially contaminated. In 1997 there were 15 confirmed diseases in the housing area adjacent to the airbase; so the government moved all the residents out. The two girls in this picture were 1 and 3 years old at the time. The 14 year old is larger than her 16 year old sister, but has had encephalitis that may have stemmed from dioxin poisoning. The family has experienced 8 births. Three were stilllborns, including one born without a head. One of the surviving children was born blind and deaf on one side. This family has suffered dearly just because they happened to live near a concentrated residue of our activities in Vietnam decades earlier.
Elsewhere in the valley we visited these two families.
The young woman on the left, shown with her mother, is 21 year old Qi Van Vac. A visiting US doctor both treated her and provided the wheel chair. A sign on house indicates that it was donated by the Vietnamese Red Cross. Qi is deaf and mute. The mother’s husband, who had been sprayed as a soldier, died 10 years ago of an intestinal tumor. As is the case with many second and third generation Agent Orange victims, the mother cares for her daughter 24 hours a day with very little support.
The young man on the right is Qi Tihn’s 20 year old son. He is also deaf and mute. He can’t even recognize his mother or father. Qi Tinh has had 5 children, one of whom died from “soft head syndrome.” Two older children appear to be normal but not healthy.
The effects of Agent Orange vary from unbelievably grotesque stillborn fetuses to relatively slight mental or physical impairments, and in our 10 day tour we saw the full range. While the severe end of the spectrum can be overwhelming, much of the range leaves room for great hopes. The Vietnamese government and NGOs and religious bodies from many countries have contributed significant – though far from adequate – support to institutions that provide at least some healthcare and vocational training to Agent Orange victims. One of the best facilities we visited was the Tien Phuoc Children’s Center outside of Ho Chi Minh City where 72 children from surrounding provinces are cared for under the leadership of Sister Le Thi Lau. All these children have some degree of mental disability. But they are cheerful and well cared for. I found it very difficult to tear myself away from this little angel.
The largest facility of this kind is the Peace Village at the Tu Du Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. This hospital deals with the full range of impacts described earlier – in some cases from cradle to grave. Whenever possible, the hospital finds homes for these children. In some cases, children are sent to vocational training centers to facilitate their integration into society. Those who are physically but not mentally handicapped are sent to school.
Here in Tu Du hospital is a living example of indomitable spirit.
The arrow in this picture points to a 19 year old young woman named Hoan. You can’t quite tell it in this picture, but her legs end at the knee, and her left arm ends at the wrist. But Hoan has an independent streak as wide as the Mekong Delta. She is completing college and has a job.
She could move into an apartment, but she has chosen to continue living at the hospital where she can help with kids growing up with problems like those she has overcome.
She commutes on a 3 wheel motorcycle of which she is most proud.
Our delegation’s visit to Vietnam has ended, but we are continuing our work in striving to fulfill the UU principles of justice equity and compassion in human relations and respect for the interdependent web of all existence. With support from a member of Congressman John Conyer’s staff, we are drafting legislation to provide humanitarian aid to support the delivery of services to Agent Orange victims and to clean up the remaining concentrations of dioxin-contamination.
I am therefore giving you advance warning that when the time is right, I will be approaching you to help put pressure on our congressional delegation to support the legislation. There will be resistance to our efforts. Such resistance is understandable, but our UU principles call on us for a different response. So I implore you to remember tomorrow, when the flags are waved and the fly-over goes by, that
… other lands have sunlight too and clover, and skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
Now I invite you to join me in a minute of silence, after which I will ask you if you so desire to call out the name of someone dear to you who died as a consequence of warfare.
Santa Monica, CA
Circleville, OH
Chapter 923 (Circleville) held a Memorial Day parade in Circleville, OH on May 31st. The parade route went from a military cemetery to a civilian cemetery (about 1.5 long). Some members marched and some rode in a member's truck. Two or three guys started walking, but had to get in truck. Had a total of about 6 people show up. Brad Cotton, Donald Mercer, and others Mike Asley, Bill, and Jack. It was a good experience. There was a lot of response from the attendees. They had an American flag on the truck, but also had a big banner, plus banners on the sides of the truck. They have had a peace vigil every month for at least five years.
Pueblo, CO
Bandon, OR
Broome County, NY
Allentown, PA
We set the display up in Cedar Beach Park, Allentown, Pa. at dawn. Display stayed up all day until dusk when we asked Herb Payung to play taps before taking it down. Herb is a 26 year old young man who has lost two good friends in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts and has played at one funeral and one memorial service.
The display was a remembrance of the Pa. military members who died in Iraq (195) and Afghanistan (43) from 2003-2010. In front and center was a tombstone with the statistics from VFP national with # of U.S. military who died in all the U.S. wars along with # of civilian deaths.
Since this was the first year, we started out with just the Pa. military members who died - we're a small chapter with limited resources, but we wanted to have our own display. The second wreath was from our local peace organization, LEPOCO, who co-sponsored the event. We had a short clip on local television network news WFMZ at 6pm and 10pm.
Corvallis, OR
Portland, OR
Jersey City, NJ
A VFP color guard took part in the Memorial Day 2010 comemoration in
Jersey
City. Attendees included the Jersey City Mayor and City Council
President
as well as relatives of Vietnam War veterans who either never made it
home
or were "hidden casualties".
This is the third year we have participated in this memorial as a
tribute to
Dave Cline.
Tampa Bay, FL
Thanks you to our hardy peace activists who gave their all before during and after the 10- 1 AM Memorial Ceremony at the Bay Pines National Cemetery that was located across the street from the Bay Pines VAMC at 100th Way and Bay Pines Blvd and we lined the curb with mock tombstones for a quarter of a mile. We thus honored the 5487 members of the US military that have fallen from all 50 States and US Territories not counting the civilian casualties estimated that number over a million more dead. We made an impact with our simple tombstones and signs the main one is - Honk to Bring 'Em Home
Boston, MA
Boston Globe - Wars’ living victims honor the dead, push for peace
Indymedia - Veterans For Peace pictures and video
Grants Pass, OR
This year, our second year in the Grants Pass Boatnik/Memorial Day Parade, Jim Woods suggested, then lead a BigBirdBuild Team for the Boatnik and the Ashland 4th of July parades. Our entry was a representation of a giant 21' wingtip-to-wingtip dove made from white bed sheets and, while being in sharp contrast to the military entries preceding us, was very well received in this city where the last white sheet parade entry a few years ago was by the KKK. We are steadily making our presence and principles known.
Gainesville, FL
VFP Chapter 14 Memorial Day display for 2010: This is the 4th year of this display which honors the dead from Iraq and Afghanistan to date with 5,477 tombstones labeled with Name, age, service, home city and state and time of death. It is the result of hundreds hours of work by hundreds of community volunteers, many of them veterans. Organized and directed by Master Sargent Scott Camil, US Marine Corps.
The flags placed on individual tombstone signify a personal connection to that soldier by someone affiliated with Vets for Peace or by one of our visitors to the display. In addition to the tombstones VFP displays its Cost of War posters with numbers linked to the National Priorities Project and Code Pink displays their peace ribbon project.
Madison, WI
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Add your events using this form. All events must be sponsored by a VFP Chapter.
St. Louis, MO - Chapter 061
NAME OF EVENT:
Reading Names of Fallen & Memorial March
LOCATION OF EVENT: College Church, STL and Columbia, MO
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:
Sunday May 30th - 6:15 College Church at Grand and Lindell - reading of
the names of the fallen from MO and IL, plus regular vigil
Monday May 31 Memorial March in Columbia, MO with their VFP Chapter.
Meet at 8:00 AM at the Ballas MetroBus Center - N Forty Dr @ New Ballas
Rd 63141 We will car pool from there. They will have a picnic
afterwards for us.
TIME:
8am
DATE: Monday May 31
CONTACT INFORMATION: Reese Forbes, forbes.reese@gmail.com
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 61
Portland, OR - Chapter 72
NAME OF EVENT:
VFP 72 to commemorate Memorial Day at the Memorial Coliseum’s “forgotten
walls”
LOCATION OF EVENT:
Portland, Oregon
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:
Veterans For Peace Chapter 72 will be commemorating Memorial Day,
Monday, May 31st again at the “forgotten” walls of the Memorial
Coliseum. This will be the fifth year VFP 72 has stepped away from the
traditional militaristic ceremonies and rhetoric to honor our fallen
brothers and sisters in arms. The location of the “forgotten” walls of
the Memorial Coliseum provides us with a sanctuary away from the
“official” Memorial Day observances which speak of the glory and
sacrifice of the fallen. General Ulysses S. Grant, eighteenth President
of the United States said it best, “The one thing I never want to see
again is a military parade”.
The Coliseum has been in the news lately and has caused much discussion
about its future. We have taken no position on its future except that
the “forgotten walls” should be preserved as a lasting testament to
those brothers in arms whose names are engraved for all to see if they
chose to visit them, something that not many have done, which is an
unfortunate reflection on our society.
We invite the public to share in our ceremony. After a few remarks and
taps is played, we will walk to the Peace Memorial Park of Portland, a
short distance down Interstate Ave. where it intersects with N. Oregon
at the East end of the Steel Bridge, where we will reflect on all
victims of war, military and civilians alike.
The Peace Memorial Park is dedicated to the memory of all people
everywhere who have ever perished in warfare, in the hope that
like-minded people will join with its sponsors and creators in the
effort to put an end to war so that humankind can live in peace.
www.peacememorialpark.org
TIME:
11:30 AM
DATE:
May 31, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Grant Remington grant@vfpchapter72.org
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER:
Chapter
72
WEBSITE:
http://www.vfpchapter72.org/
Daytona Beach, FL - Chapter 136
NAME OF EVENT:
Memorial for U.S. Troops killed in Iraq and AfPak Wars
LOCATION OF EVENT:
Historic Daytona Beach Bandshell in Daytona Beach, FL
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:
Volunteers needed for Iraq/AfPak War Memorial Service
We are asking Groups and Individuals from Central Florida to help honor
our troops killed in action while serving in the Iraq and AfPak wars by
volunteering to join us and read aloud the names of the fallen so that
they and their sacrifices will not be forgotten.
The Bandshell is located between the Worlds Most Famous Beach and Ocean
Walk Village on Atlantic Ave.(A1A) South of Seabreeze Blvd. & North
of Main St. You can enter the Bandshell thru Ocean Walk Village from A1A
or the overpass from the Earl St. Parking Garage or you can park on the
beach via the Seabreeze Blvd. or International Speedway Blvd. access
ramps.
For directions using Mapquest, go to this link:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?address=Earl+Street&city=Daytona+Beach&state=FL&country=US
What: Memorial Display and Public Acknowledgement of U.S. Troops
Killed in Action in the Iraq and AfPak Wars
We ask that there be No Protesting, No Signs, No Speeches, No
Bullhorning during the Memorial.
Who: Florida chapter of Military Families Speak Out (www.mfso.org)
There will be free literature and DVD’s available to the public as well
as members of the Florida chapter of Military Families Speak Out and the
Central Florida chapter of Veterans For Peace on hand to talk with and
answer questions. Tax-deductible donations to cover the costs of our
memorial displays, event fees, and other costs would be greatly
appreciated. Thank you.
TIME: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
DATE:
Monday May 31st, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Phil Restino - ph: (386) 788-2918, cell: (386) 235-3268
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER:
Central Florida Veterans For Peace, VFP Chapter 136
WEBSITE: www.cflveteransforpeace.org
Chicago, IL - Chapter 026
NAME OF EVENT:
Combined Chicago VFP/VVAW/IVAW Memorial Day CeremonyLOCATION OF EVENT: Chicago Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, northwest corner, Wacker & Wabash, Lower Level alongside Chicago River, Chicago
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: Speakers on Kent State 40th Anniversary, Homeless veterans and other topics; Folk Music by Chapter Member Anna Stange and others, Laying of Flowers on Memorial Fountain at Memorial; Party After at Quenchers, Western & Fullerton.
TIME: 11:00 A.M. Sharp
DATE: Monday, May 31, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION: info@chicagovfp.org, vvaw@vvaw.org, mike71atkron86vfp26@hotmail.com
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Cpl. Joseph E. Powers-Chicago Area Chapter 26, Veterans for Peace
Gainesville, FL - Chapter 014
NAME OF EVENT: Arlington Gainesville/Memorial MileLOCATION OF EVENT: Gainesville Fl
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: Tombstones for every deceased GI since Oct. 2001 will be placed along a 0.9 mile stretch of 8th ave by Westside Park plus a display on the Cost of War.
TIME: 0700 5/29/10-dusk 5/31/10
DATE: 5/29-31/10
CONTACT INFORMATION: Scott Camil 352-375-2563
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 14
New York, New York - Chapter 034
NAME OF EVENT: Memorial Day Observance for PeaceLOCATION OF EVENT: Near Pier 1 in front of the WW II Memorial on the waterfront in Battery Park, in lower Manhattan.
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: The New York City Chapter of Veterans For Peace will host a Memorial Day Observance For Peace, to honor our fallen comrades and all victims of war.
Veterans, friends and family members will meet to commemorate our fallen brothers and sisters, and all victims of war, and toss flowers into the harbor in remembrance of loved ones and the innocent victims lost in various conflicts.
TIME: 12 Noon
DATE: Sunday, May 30, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION: 914-4199728 Bill Gilson
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: VFP Chapter 034
Bandon, OR - Chapter 141
NAME OF EVENT: Stand for PeaceLOCATION OF EVENT: Corner of Highway 101 and Highway 42S Bandon, OR
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: Stand for Peace
TIME: 12:00 noon to 1:30 PM
DATE: May 30
CONTACT INFORMATION: 541-572-0284
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 141 Bandon OR.
Santa Fe - Chapter 055
NAME OF EVENT: Screening "Arlington West"LOCATION OF EVENT: Unitarian Congregation, 107 W Barcelona Rd, Santa Fe, New Mexico
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: The film "ARLINGTON WEST" is a 74-minute documentary presenting "temporary cemeteries" in the sand, erected every Sunday by the Veterans For Peace in Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Oceanside, and Huntington Beach. Flag draped coffins and over 4,000 wooden crosses, affectionately placed, invites the public to honor the unacknowledged fallen U.S. soldiers and lament the cost of the war. It is a powerful and moving film.
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
DATE: Sunday, 30 May 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION: domdanc@yahoo.com
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: 55, Joan Duffy Chapter of Veterans For Peace-Santa Fe
WEBSITE: www.vfp-santafe.org
Allentown, PA - Chapter 152
NAME OF EVENT: Memorial Day Remembrance of Pa. military members who died in Iraq and Afghanistan 2003 - 2010LOCATION OF EVENT: Parkway Blvd. off Ott Street in Allentown -- Cedar Beach Park
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: Dawn to dusk display of simulated tombstones for each military member from Pa. who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. A brief closing ceremony ending with the playing of taps.
TIME: dawn until dusk
DATE: Monday, May 31st
CONTACT INFORMATION: (484) 248-6113 llegun@ptd.net
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Lehigh Valley Chapter 152 & Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern (LEPOCO)
St. Paul, MN - Chapter 027
NAME OF EVENT: Memorial DayLOCATION OF EVENT: St.Paul, MN
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: Yearly gathering around the Minnesota Viet Nam Veterans Memorial. Bag Pipe player, readings open mike song. Some years we read the names of the past years casulties in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
TIME: 9:00 am
DATE: May 31, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION: 651-757-8012
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: VFP Chapter 27
Binghamton, NY - Chapter 090
NAME OF EVENT:
Binghamton Memorial Day paradeLOCATION OF EVENT: Main and Walnut Streets Northside
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:
Veterans and community groups parade to honor the memory of US War Casualties. We say bring them home Now! meet at 1:30 PM
TIME: 2 PM
DATE: Monday May 31st
CONTACT INFORMATION: George McAnanama 607-759-8491 or email Gmcvet4p@gmail.com
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Broome County Veterans For Peace chapter 090
Miami, FL - Chapter 032
NAME OF EVENT: VFP Miami Memorial Day ActivitiesLOCATION OF EVENT: Miami Beach, Florida
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:
Members of Veterans For Peace – South Florida are attending two events on Monday May 31, 2010
1. American Legion/VFW/Miami Beach Memorial Day Ceremony at 1100 Washington at 10:30 a.m.
2. Arlington South Beach Memorial - A Memorial Service with the reading of the names of Florida's Fallen at 5:00 p.m. at 9th Street and Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
TIME: 10.30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.
DATE: Monday May 31, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION: SamFeldman@the-beach.net
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 32
WEBSITE:http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=122588611105311&ref=mf
Laramie, WY - Chapter 065
NAME OF EVENT:
Friday Stand Up! For Peace
LOCATION OF EVENT:
3rd St. & Grand Ave., Laramie WY
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:
Now in the 8th year, the weekly Stand up! includes vets and civilians.
"Honk for Peace" signs are the most prominent, and there is always an
enthusiastic response from the public.
TIME:
4:45-5:15 PM
DATE:
Friday, May 28th
CONTACT INFORMATION:
nancy S. Sindynan@juno.com
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER:
VFP Ch 65, Wyoming
Traverse City, MI - Chapter 050
NAME OF EVENT:
Display of crosses denoting 185 Michigan citizens killed in Iraq and Afghanistan
LOCATION OF EVENT:
Waterfront, downtown Traverse City, Michigan
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: We will have a display of crosses, with name, hometown, circumstances of death, picture.of 188, Michigan citizens killed in Iraq and Afghanistan,
on Memorial Day 9 to 4. We have done this on Memorial Day and Veterans Day since the
Iraq war started.
TIME:
9 to 4 p.m.
DATE:
5/31/10
CONTACT INFORMATION: John Lewis lordnladyc@att.net
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER:
50
WEBSITE:
www.vfp50.org
Middlebury & Vergennes, Vermont - Chapter 057
NAME OF EVENT:
two paradesLOCATION OF EVENT: Middlebury and Vergennes, Vermont
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: Memorial Day Parades
TIME: 9 and 12
DATE: Memorial Day
CONTACT INFORMATION: deross2@yahoo.com
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Will Miller Green Mountain Chapter 57
Boston, MA - Chapter 009
NAME OF EVENT:
Memorial Day for Peace
LOCATION OF EVENT:
Boston
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:
A Memorial Day for Peace event will be held in Boston on Monday, May
31, 2010 at Christopher Columbus Park (near the Boston Aquarium) at
1:00pm. Invited guests and speakers will include many Iraqi refugees,
recently arrived, Veterans For Peace members, MFSO (the Lucy's and the
Arrendondo's), and AFSC (speaker Joseph Gerson). The public is invited.
Names of the deceased from Massachusetts will be read, along with the
names of Iraqi and Afghani persons killed in the war. Flowers will be
dropped in the harbor, when the names are read for each individual lost
to war and the ravages of war.
Memorial to Howard Zinn, proud member of VFP
Joseph Gerson – American Friends Service Committee
Severyn Bruyn – World War II, Army Veteran (1945 – 1947)
Bill Ashton, VFP, Smedley Butler Brigade, Navy Corpsman (1981-1986)
Nancy Lessin and Charlie Richardson – Military Families Speak Out
Ross Caputi – Marine veteran of the Iraq War (2003 – 2006)
President of Boston University Anti-War Coalition
Kevin & Joyce Lucey, parents of Corporal Jeffrey Lucey, U.S. M.C.
Melida & Carlos Arredondo, Gold Star Families for Peace, parents of Marine Lance Corporal Alex Arredondo U.S,M.C.
Farouk Al-Saad – Iraqi Refugee – Effects of war on my people, country & culture
Rafal Al-Saad – Daughter – Winner, NSCC Peace Poetry Contest
The Memorial Day for Peace will include Eyes Wide Open which consists of pairs of boots laid out on the lawn for each U.S. soldier from Massachusetts who has died in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
We will recite the names of those fallen who passed away in support of what we believe to be illegal and illicit wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Names of some Iraq and Afghanistan civilians killed in the conflicts will also be read. We mourn deeply all those who should not have lost their lives in war, sadly, perpetrated by misguided leaders, leading a misinformed public and an over-extended military into two immoral wars we greatly oppose.
TIME:
1:00 pm
DATE:
May 31, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Pat Scanlon, Coordinator, Smedley Butler Brigade, VFP - 978-590-4248
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 9
WEBSITE: smedleyvfp.org
Madison, WI - Chapter 25
NAME OF EVENT:
Memorial Mile and Memorial Day event
LOCATION OF EVENT:
Atwood Avenue for the Memorial Mile and James Madison Park for the event
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:
On May 29, Madison VFP -25erected 5487 tombstone replicas in honor of
the US troops killed in the Iraq/Afghanistan Wars. They will be up for a
week at Olbrich Park along Atwood Avenue.
On Memorial Day Madison VFP will have a program at the west end of James
Madison Park at 1 pm. Keynote speaker is Dr. Adam Schesch, historian
and researcher on guerilla wars speaking on Iraq/Afghanistan: The
Quicksand War. Old Cool is supplying the music and the names of the
Wisconsin dead will be read by volunteers from the audience.
TIME: May 31, 2010
1 pm
DATE:
5-29-10 thru 6-4-10
CONTACT INFORMATION: Richard, Chamberlin, 608-222-7136 chamberlin.richard@gmail.com
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER:
Chapter 25
Tampa Bay, FL - Chapter 119
NAME OF EVENT: ARLINGTON TAMPA BAYLOCATION OF EVENT: ACROSS THE STREET FROM BAY PINES VAMC, ST PETERSBURG,FL
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: A MEMORIAL OBSERVANCE OF THE FALLEN - ARLINGTON TAMPA BAY WILL BE HELD BY MEMBERS OF VFP, INC AND TAMPA BAY CHAPTER 119 AND INVITES ALL THAT SUPPORTS FINDING ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES TO O I L ! WILL STAND WITH SIGNS, RECITE THE NAMES OF THE FALLEN FLORIDIANS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN ON THE GRASS BEHIND 58 MOCK HEADSTONES OF ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETARY - MARKED WITH THE INITIALS OF ALL FIFTY STATES AND US TERRITORIES THAT COMMEMORATE THE FALLEN IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. WE INVITE ELECTED OFFICIALS, MEMBERS OF THOSE SECKING ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES AND VETERANS TO SPEAK AS WE RECITE THE NAMES AND SING SONGS FOR PEACE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BAY PINES VA ENRANCE ON SUNDAY BEGINNING AT 1 PM AND ENDING AT 2PM FOR MORE INFO CONTACT JAY ALEXANDER AT 727 412 5792 OR 727 525 8769 OR JAYALEXUS@YAHOO.COM this wil be down the road from the Pinellas Progressive Dems Memorial Day Picinic at Veterans Park from 11 AM to 4 PM with guest Alex Sink) this will be my last veterans event until October
TIME: 1PM
DATE: MAY 30, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION: JAY ALEXANDER 7275258769H 7274125792 JAYALEXUS@YAHOO.COM
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 119
Centerville, MA (Cape Cod) - Chapter 041
NAME OF EVENT: MEMORIAL DAY PARADE AND COMMEMORATIONLOCATION OF EVENT: CENTERVILLE, MA ON CAPE COD
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: CAPE COD'S BIGGEST MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY WITH LARGE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. A 6TH GRADE WINNER IN THE CAPE COD CHAPTER'S 15TH ANNUAL PEACE POETRY CONTEST WILL READ HER POEM AS PART OF THE COMMEMORATION AND MEMBERS OF CHAPTER 041 WILL PLACE WREATHS
TIME: 0930 FORM UP, 1000 MARCH
DATE: MONDAY, MAY 31, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION: DUKE ELLIS 508-420-5532 or dukeellis@mail.com
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Cosponsored by Chapter 041 with other veterans groups
Albuquerque, NM - Chapter 063
NAME OF EVENT:
Albuquerque, NM Memorial Day Program
LOCATION OF EVENT:
Veterans Memorial Park
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:
VFP is tabling at this city wide event
TIME:
9-10:30
DATE:
5/31/10
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Sally-Alice Thompson Thompson5186@comcast.net
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER:
63
Rocky River, OH - Chapter 039
NAME OF EVENT:
Eyes Wide Open Ohio
LOCATION OF EVENT:
Rocky River, OH, West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:
Eyes Wide Open Ohio: An Exhibition of the Human Cost of War is a
memorial display honoring soldiers from Ohio who have been killed in the
Afghanistan and Iraq War. Pairs of combat boots, each pair labeled
with the name of an Ohio casualty, will be set out in a pattern of rows
and columns. Visitors are invited to walk among the boots and pay their
respects to the men, women and families who have given so much. A
display of civilian shoes will also represent the many civilian
casualties of this war.
Eyes Wide Open Ohio is made available to organizations throughout Ohio
by the American Friends Service Committee. The sponsors join with AFSC
in honoring the sacrifices made by our service men and women, while at
the same time asserting our belief in the waste and ultimate futility of
war and violence. Co-sponsored with West Shore U.U. Social Action
Committee.
TIME:
10am to 6pm
DATE:
Sat. 5/29, Sun. 5/30, Mon. 5/31
CONTACT INFORMATION:
440-777-9108
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 39
Pueblo, CO - Chapter 129
NAME OF EVENT:
Veterans For Peace Memorial Day Ceremony "Contiual Costs of War"
LOCATION OF EVENT:
Vietnam Memorial 26th and Elizabeth Streets, Pueblo, Colorado
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:
Howard Zinn Chapter 129 VFP, Pueblo, Colorado
Memorial Day Service will begin at 5PM on Memorial Day, May 31st, 2010 featuring, the Blue grass Band Fireweed, playing songs, e.g. "Where Have all the Flowers Gone..." and "Gonna Lay Down My Sword" . Begin with: "Armed Forces Medley" honoring all veterans of all wars who were killed in action, followed by "Taps" and spiritual invocation by Sr.Elaine Lopez-Pacheco, Sister of Mercy.
Speeches by: VFP & Vietnam Vet, Jim Beckenhaut and Journalist Marvin Read
followed by "If I had a hammer" and testimonies of 4 VFPs Doug Gale,
Glen Burke, Robert Mack and Louis Martinez, and ending with "Gonna Lay
Down My Sword.."
MC-Charles Butler, Pres. 129.
TIME:
5:00 PM
DATE:
May 31st, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Charles Butler, chuckyoli@Copper.net
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER:Howard Zinn Chapter 129 VFP, Pueblo, Colorado
Seattle, WA - Chapter 092
NAME OF EVENT: Leafletting against war and occupation at Folklife FestivalLOCATION OF EVENT: Seattle Center, Broad & Denny
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: On Saturday, May 29, Members of Greater Seattle Veterans For Peace (VFP 92) will distribute flyers calling for an end to all U.S. occupations, wars and threats of war, with an emphasis on the escalating U.S. war on the people of Afghanistan.
We will also stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle against Israeli occupation and genocide. VFP 92 is a co-sponsor of the weekly Voices of Palestine vigil on Saturdays from 12 noon to 2 pm. This week's vigil will also be taking place outside the Folklife Festival, Broad & Denny at Seattle Center.
On Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, at 7 pm, VFP 92 members will attend a special presentation of the Vets Arts Project at the Freehold Theatre in Seattle's Belltown disrict.
TIME: 11am-1pm
DATE: Saturday, May 29
CONTACT INFORMATION: 206-499-1220
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 92
WEBSITE: www.vfp92.org
Teaneck, NJ - Chapter 021
NAME OF EVENT:
Teaneck's Cedar Lane Family Festival Saluting our VeteransLOCATION OF EVENT: Teaneck, New Jersey
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: Crafts, food, shopping and VFP and MFSO in their
faces!!! We will have a table to hand out where the trillion dollars has gone and where it should go!!
TIME: 11 am to 6 pm
DATE: Monday, May 31, 2010, rain or shine
CONTACT INFORMATION: nancynygard1@verizon.net
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 021, NJ and MFSO Bergen County
Chelsea, MI - Chapter 093
NAME OF EVENT:
Arlington MichiganLOCATION OF EVENT: Chelsea, Michigan
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: One cross for every Michigan soldier killed in Iraq and Afghanistan (183). Held at Pierce Park, on South Main Street, just north of Old US Highway 12.
TIME: 9am to 1pm
DATE: May 31, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION: wolverbob@gmail.com
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 93
WEBSITE: www.vfp93.org
San Diego, CA - Chapter 091
NAME OF EVENT:
Arlington West Memorial
LOCATION OF EVENT:
USS Midway Museum lawn, Broadway and Harbor Drives, San Diego, CA
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:
San Diego Veterans For Peace will be setting up our Arlington West
Memorial from 8 AM until after dark on Memorial Day at the USS Midway
Museum lawn area in downtown San Diego. We will be reading the names of
the fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan, and adding candles to the crosses
and other religious symbols at dark.
TIME:
8 AM until 9 PM
DATE:
05-31-2010
CONTACT INFORMATION: Gil Field 858-342-1964
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER:
Chapter #91 - Hugh Thompson Memorial Chapter
WEBSITE: www.SDVFP.org
Manchester, NH - Chapter 062
NAME OF EVENT:
Manchester, NH Memorial Day ParadeLOCATION OF EVENT: Manchester, NH
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: NH Veterans for Peace will march with Iraq Veterans Against the War with VFP flags, US flags, our NH VFP banner with our VFP logo that says "NH VFP Honor Our Fallen" and a UN flag and a "Support the Troops, Bring Them Home" sign.
TIME: 2 pm
DATE: May 31, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION: Will Thomas, 603-668-4996
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: AJ Muste Chapter #062
Circeville, OH
NAME OF EVENT: Memorial Day ParadeDATE: Monday, May 31
Santa Monica, CA - Chapter 007
NAME OF EVENT:
Memorial Day Sunday and
MondayLOCATION OF EVENT: Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: A rose ceremony and candle light vigil will be conducted in recognition of Memorial Day. Over 2500 roses will be placed throughout the Arlington West Memorial beginning at 2pm on Sunday, May 30th. A candle light vigil will be placed at the base of each other cross commencing at 7:30pm on that same evening.
TIME: 2pm
DATE: May 30th and 31st
CONTACT INFORMATION: larry@arlingtonwestsantamonica.org 310.339.1770
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: VFP Los Angeles Chapter 7
WEBSITE: http://www.arlingtonwestsantamonica.org
Grants Pass, OR - Chapter 159
NAME OF EVENT: Grants Pass Boatnik/Memorial Day ParadeLOCATION OF EVENT: Grants Pass Boatnik/
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: Memorial Day Parade
TIME: 10am
DATE: Saturday, May 29
CONTACT INFORMATION: Hal Anthony
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 156
WEBSITE: http://www.rv-vfp156.org, "Veterans for Peace, Chapter 156"
City, State - Chapter
NAME OF EVENT:LOCATION OF EVENT:
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:
TIME:
DATE:
CONTACT INFORMATION:
SPONSORED BY / VFP CHAPTER NUMBER:
WEBSITE: