Veteran's Day Activities - 2008
Madison, WI
Chapter 25 Concludes Week-Long Memorial Mile In Madison
Madison Chapter 25 installed and promoted its own version of the Memorial Mile from November 8-15. Fifty volunteers installed the mile (our 3rd installation) totaling 4,800 tombstones (Iraq and Afghanistan) along the length of Speedway Road on November 8. A memorial ceremony was conducted on Sunday, November 9th, including coverage by two local network affiliates and Wisconsin Public Radio. Speakers (all active members of Chapter 25) included Fr. David Couper (Marine veteran and former Madison Police Chief), Lt. Colonel Fran Wiedenhoeft (an Air Force nurse anesthetist), Iraq war and Navy veteran Nathan Toth, and Viet Nam combat veteran Will Williams. Each in profound fashion decried the vast losses in human lives, civilian as well as military, and the profligate squandering of precious national resources on these long wars.
The site of the Mile was on the edge of historic Forest Hill Cemetery facing a major thoroughfare where over 15,000 vehicles passed daily. The Chapter gained special permission from the Madison Parks Commission to use this site and the vast majority of comments expressed in the press or from passers-by were favorable in the extreme. Many indicated their astonishment at the endless nature of the tombstones. The site may be used again during the Memorial Day week in 2009. The Chapter thanks members John Fournelle and Richard Chamberlin for co-chairing this event as well as member volunteers and many members of the public.
Naples, FL
These were taken at the "Arlington South" display of crosses in Naples,
Florida, on Veterans
Day, November 13, 2008.
The crosses represent soldiers who have died in the Iraq
war. All soldiers' names are read aloud by volunteers at the display.
Veterans
for Peace member John Riccio of Naples began erecting Arlington South on
the first anniversary of the Iraq war, in March 2004. Modeled after Arlington
West in Santa
Barbara, the Naples
event has continued annually since then, and is also held on Veterans Day
and Memorial
Day each year.
Four-year-old Kaelyn Calloway of Naples, Florida, assists with breaking down "Arlington South", a display of crosses by the Naples pier on Veterans Day, November 13, 2008.
Baltimore, MD
The first picture is our little Armistice/Veterans vigil last night, at a terrific 3-way intersection where LOTS of traffic passes, right in front of a Quaker meeting house with its own peace sign; got lots of honks and waves, even some salutes! Then we went to hear and support IVAW member Joshua Casteel, Abu Ghraib interrogator and powerful developing Catholic theological peace voice.
Boston, MA
Veterans Day 2008 was a big success for the Smedley Butler Brigade in Boston. The American Legion, afraid of confrontation with us, cancelled the speaking portion of the event. We had more people marching with us than last year, behind the street sweepers as usual, thanks to our supporters from Code Pink, Mass. Peace Action, Raging Grannies, U Mass Antiwar group, and others who came out. As we reached City Hall Plaza, Iraq Veterans Against The War was on the sidewalk, applauding us and we all hugged and shook hands. Then, in a great suggestion by Liam Madden, we had our own speaking event on City Hall Plaza. Speakers were Nate Goldshlag, Shep Gurwitz, Liam Madden, national VFP President Elliott Adams, and Paul Brailsford. We ended with the Raging Grannies singing a song.
We marched with cadences the whole way, and passed out hundreds of flyers in an attempt to get the wars and occupations back into the consciousness of the public. We got a great response from people along the way, and only a couple of negative reactions. The motorcycles that the Boston Police put between us and the parade made it seem like we had a motorcycle escort! In a comical note, the official program that listed the groups had the following at the end of the Third Division: Boston Street Cleaning Division Veterans For Peace
Our photos, videos, TV, and print media coverage are at http://smedleyvfp.org/page2/page32/page32.html
Corvallis, OR
Unfortunately, Chapter 132 from Corvallis, Oregon is unable to provide any photos this year -- we paraded during continuous rain. However, we still consider our efforts a big success. We handed out 500 VFP Cost of War cards, and we stood our ground at the reviewing stand. Last year the announcer read only a small part of the description of our organization that I had submitted with our application to be in the parade. Despite two letters asking for an explanation, I had received no response.
So this year, we had a plan. If the announcer did not read what I had submitted, then I would pull out my bullhorn, and read it for him. Sure enough, he stopped after the word "organization," so I read the rest over the bull horn. "Veterans for Peace is a non-profit educational organization recognized by the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organization. Members draw on their personal experiences and perspectives gained as veterans to raise public awareness of the true costs and consequences of militarism and war-and to seek peaceful, effective alternatives. The parade marshalls tried to get me to stop, but I didn't. Someone heard them mutter, "This is the last year that we're letting them in this parade." So! Next year should be interesting!
Leah Bolger,Chapter 132, Corvallis, OR
New York City, NY
VFP Chapter 21, New Jersey marched in the New York City Veterans Day Parade along with members from VFP Chapter 34, New York City , VFP Chapter 60 of the Tappan Zee Brigade from Westchester and Rockland Counties (N.Y.),Military Families Speak Out, Vietnam Veterans Against the War and Iraq Veterans Against the War.
Once again we had a very positive response from the spectators
along the parade route which went up 5th Avenue from 27 th Street up to 54 th
street.
In addition to the New York City veterans Day Parade, Chapter 21
participated in the rededication of the World War I monument at Pershing Field
in Jersey City, New Jersey. At this event, our members were treated warmly by
other veterans groups including members from the local V.F.W.
Miami, FL
Miami Beach Veterans Remembrance
Veterans Day Features over 800 Crosses
New Jersey Chapter 21
Armistice Day 2008
Members of the VFP Delwin Anderson Memorial Chapter 016 of the Washington D.C. metro area met on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to begin their commemoration of "Veterans (Armistice) Day". Surrounded by hundreds of veterans from all over America and other countries the chapter introduced itself and VFP through distribution of literature, membership forms and conversations. At 1PM the group began a procession to the National World War II Memorial. Carrying VFP and American flags, a banner of 144 Virginians killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan and an Armistice banner, the group first proceeded towards the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Although the group was barred entrance due to a service taking place, they paused in remembrance and marched along the Reflecting Pool and Constitution Gardens. The group was warmly greeted as it passed numerous veterans and their families.
Upon arriving at the east entrance to the National World War II Memorial pictures were taken and soon a number of passersby stopped to take pictures and speak with the group. The response to our presence was so overwhelming that we stayed in place for the next three hours greeting veterans and receiving warm thanks from hundreds of people. One of the visitors was a woman from Great Britain who had served in the Air Artillery Corps during WWII, accompanied by her son who was active duty US Navy Captain.
It was a day of international outreach for peace and the mission of VFP through membership forms and literature placed in the hands of dozens of people who went on their separate ways feeling a little more empowered. Special thanks goes to all joined us including; Debbie Tolson, Virginia Smith, Hank Ickes, Earle Mitchell, Kevin McCarron, Gary Hosey, Jim Goodnow, Irvin Vann and Michael Marceau.
Chapter 16 4 – British WWII veteran and her son Chapter 16 5 – Michael Marceau, Jim Goodnow and 8th graders from California Submitted by Anthony Teolis, http://vfpdc.blogspot.com