Member Highlights
Memorial Day Weekend - A Statement From Dan SheaMay 22, 2013 As Memorial Day Weekend approaches many activities will be happening families prepare for backyard BBQs, Picnics, a trip to the coast or mountains others will honor the fallen soldiers that lost their lives in Wars past and present. S. Brian Willson, age 71, a Viet Nam veteran member of VFP Ch72 in Portland OR This year there is also another major protest around the world against Monsanto the corporation that is at war with farmers, environmentalists and families that want healthy non-GMO and pesticide free foods. When I look at Monsanto, it triggers my PTSD, my heart breaks, and Viet Nam is ever Dan Shea Statement in Solidarity with March Against Monsanto Agent Orange: Monsanto’s Legacy Veterans For Peace members David Soumis and Lars Prip participated in their Saturday outreach against the use of killer drones at the Madison WI Farmer’s Market, one of the largest in the country.May 21, 2013 Veterans For Peace members David Soumis and Lars Prip participated in their Saturday outreach against the use of killer drones at the Madison Wisconsin Farmer’s Market, one of the largest in the country. This particular Saturday, May 18, was also the weekend of area college graduation, including the University of Wisconsin Madison, so there were a lot of people from across the country in attendance. Lars was kind enough to hold his sign next to the NG recruiting table, where he was informed by one of the recruiters that we (Americans) don't do that (I'm assuming he means don't kill kids). S. Brian Willson to Fast & Vigil in Solidarity with Guantanamo PrisonersMay 16, 2013
I started a 300 calorie/day fast Sunday night, and have no definite plans when I will come off the fast. Diane Wilson is fasting on water only, open-ended, outside the White House in Washington,DC. Witness Against Torture is coordinating hundreds of chain fasts across the country. So far, only Diane Wilson and I are on prolonged fasts. Hope to see you Thursday. The intention is to be publicly vigiling everyday in the afternoons at the same place so people get used to the vigil with banner. Some of us will be wearing orange jump/prison suits. Always need 3 people in the vigil to hold the banner. I plan to be present everyday at the public vigil, but will only be there if there are at least 3 people. Otherwise I will simply fast at home until more people are interested. At this point I think there are enough folks interested in getting started. May pick up momentum when people see a serious vigil with large banner and people in orange prison suits day after day at the same spot and times. Why I am on a Hunger Strike to Shut Down GuantanamoMay 09, 2013
VFP members at Y12 Plowshares trial with VFP defendant Greg Boertje-ObedMay 09, 2013
30th Annual Ava Helen and Linus Pauling Memorial Lecture for World Peace, "Waging Peace" with Leah Bolger, Peace ActivistMay 06, 2013 Leah Bolger was recently selected to give the 30th annual Ava Helen and Linus Pauling Memorial Peace Lecture at Oregon State University. Previous lecturers have included 8 Nobel Laureates as well as other notables such as Noam Chomsky, Robert Kennedy Jr., and John Kenneth Galbraith. Leah's lecture was entitled "Waging Peace" Exploring the Island, Discovering its People, Their History and CultureMay 01, 2013 At last year’s National Convention, several people asked about a VFP delegation to Cuba. VFP member Jim Ryerson has been making documentary films in Cuba since 1998, and has visited the island more than 30 times. Jim has looked into a fully-licensed and legal VFP delegation to travel to Cuba. He has found a couple of options which might serve our needs. We need to know what type of interest there might be among VFP members for a trip in November of this year. Please let us know if you would have interest in such a trip, and would like more information. Spouses, family and friends (18 years and up) of VFP members would be eligible. Contact Jim Ryerson Join Sam's Ride For PeaceApril 26, 2013 RIDE FOR PEACE
Press Alert
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mr. Winstead blazed this trail last spring. In his inaugural Ride for Peace, Sam pedaled 350 miles in 7 days, from Raleigh to DC. Winstead, who is 87, will lead riders from the NC Capital in Raleigh at 8:00am Sunday, April 28, and make overnight stops in Henderson, NC (April 28), Blackstone, VA (April 29) Gum Spring, VA (April 30), Culpeper, VA (May 1), Middleburg, VA (May 2), Leesburg, VA (May 3) and will arrive at Lafayette Park in Washington, DC for a Rally for Peace at 2:00pm Saturday, May 4th. During the ride, Sam will distribute copies of David Swanson’s book “When the World Outlawed War” which tells the story of the Kellogg-Briand Peace Treaty. The treaty was ratified by the US senate in 1928 by a vote of 85-1. Winstead also plans to deliver personal letters and meet with his NC Congressional delegates while he is in Washington. Recruiting Mideast War Vets - Chapter 39April 25, 2013
Letter to the Editor by Former POW and FLVCS VP, Mike BurnsApril 25, 2013 Former President George W. Bush says that he is at ease with his legacy. He told the Dallas Morning News on April 13, 2013, “I’m comfortable with what I did,” and “It’s easy to forget what life was like when the decision was made.” No, Mr. Bush, it’s impossible to forget what life was like then and the evil you wrought. Members of Florida Veterans for Common Sense remember all too well what it was like in the run-up to your war with Iraq. Our organization formed in opposition to your planned invasion. We did so in order to speak out against a repeat of the Vietnam folly, and as patriotic veterans, we could not stand by silently as unwise leaders beat the drums for unnecessary war. From our military experience, we knew to a certainty that your decision to go to war would kill many brave warriors and more would be wounded both psychologically and physically. We remember the times well because by standing for peace, we were vilified and called peaceniks, communists, and worse. Nevertheless, we still spoke out against the planned Iraq invasion and settled on these objectives: to educate ourselves and the public on national security issues, to help our fellow veterans upon their return home, and to oppose torture. |
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S. Brian Willson of VFP72 Portland Oregon has already began a Fast in solidarity with Guantanamo Detainees and will begin a public vigil this Thursday afternoon, May 16, for starters near Portland City Hall, 3 pm - 7 pm with Guantanamo Banner.
As a fourth generation shrimper and an environmental activist on the Texas gulf coast, I have gone on many hunger fasts to protect the seas my community of fishermen depended upon. I know how far I would go to be heard. To have a voice. To push for justice. So I can vouch for the experts who say that the 100 + hunger strikes in Guantanamo prison reflect the level of desperation and despair felt by the prisoners there. The detainees are screaming for justice from the outside world. And they are being heard.
VFP members Ann Wright, John Amidon, Father Louie Vitale, Ellen Barfield with fellow VFP member and defendant Greg Boertje- Obed (with VFP shirt) at noon break in trial. The three defendants were convicted later in the day and are awaiting sentencing.
APRIL 28, Raleigh, NC – World War II Marine combat veteran Samuel Winstead, who is riding his bicycle on a 350 mile Ride for Peace, is accepting applications for co-riders to join his anti-war journey that leaves Sunday April 28th from Raleigh, NC bound for Washington, DC.
On Sunday, 21 April, at Cleveland's annual Earth Day festival, we had first opportunity to expose our new Mideast War Vets flyer. For the first time ever, we had Afghan vets stopping at our table to talk, and the flyer was picked up and read.