[pjw] Event: Armistice Day Commemoration Sunday 10:30 AM Director Park

[Peace and Justice Works]

PJW supporters
As noted the other day, Sunday marks 100 years since "the war to end all 
wars." And yet here we are in the 18th year of the war in Afghanistan, 
with ongoing drone and airstrikes in Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan, 
Libya, and Syria, not to mention troops on the ground in most of those 7 
countries. Drone bases in Africa, military installations all over, and a 
president who wants to rip up arms control treaties.

Of course, there was also WW II, Korea and Viet Nam, Granada, Panama, Gulf 
War I and many covert and proxy wars in Central America and around the 
globe.

So, that war to end all wars really worked, I guess.

Anyway, the Veterans For Peace usually does a commemoration on Veterans 
Day downtown-- this year it will be in Director Park at SW Park and 
Taylor-- at 10:30 AM with ceremonies beginning at 11, as noted below in 
the email from Marion Ward of VFP.

After that I have included the letter that Dan Shea of VFP sent to Mayor 
Wheeler about yesterday's proclamation.

dan h
peace and justice works


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2018 00:39:04
From: Marion Ward


Please join Veterans for Peace
2018 Armistice Day Commemoration
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11th
Gathering at 10:30 a.m., Program at 11:00 a.m.
Director Park, 815 SW Park Ave. (at SW Taylor)
Portland, OR

   Please bring bell to ring at 11:11 a.m.


------------------


Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2018 16:51:44
From: dan shea
Subject: Open Letter to Mayor Ted Wheeler



Dear Mayor Wheeler and City Council Members

Reading your proposed 2018 Veterans Day Proclamation is unfortunately the 
usual glorification of veterans serving the masters of war.

While I know your intentions are meant to honor our veterans, something 
that has become so common place on calendars on Nov 11th, that it is 
celebrated as a National Holiday, with Veterans Day Parades and with all 
the pomp and circumstance of a premier to a blockbuster movie.

Everybody wants to get into the act, stores offer Veterans Day Discounts, 
Restaurants offer free meals to Veteran Families, all well and good but we 
fail to address the plight of homeless veterans, the why of 20 to 22 
veteran suicides a day, the wounded in body and mind, and the betrayals of 
our Congressional Representatives that are trying to privatize our 
Veterans Healthcare.

The why is war, we celebrate war disguised as platitudes to our Veterans.

I am Viet Nam Veteran, who served as a Combat Marine Machine Gunner in 
Quang Tri Province in 1968 and saw the face of war, it was death, a death 
that follows you home, even after 50 years.

I don't want your platitudes, your proclamations honoring me for losing 
part of my soul, for being an occupier and an instrument death, I want you 
to honor the true spirit of November 11th Armistice Day which will be the 
100th Anniversary of the end of WWI and it's intended proclamation to be 
"The End of All Wars"

I am a member of the Portland Oregon Veterans For Peace Chapter 72 and am 
serving my third year on the National Board of Directors of Veterans For 
Peace whose members have served in WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Afghanistan, 
Iraq and many regime change special operations you're not supposed to know 
about.

We have members all over the world and we are resolute in Reclaiming 
Armistice Day and Celebrating Peace

Please reconsider the language in your Veterans Day Promulgation, join 
Veterans For Peace in Reclaiming Armistice Day and Honor all our Veterans 
by calling for the End Of All Wars.

VFP Chapter 72 will gather at 10:30 AM at Director Park at SW Taylor & 
Park Ave Ceremony will begin at 11 AM Sharp.

Peace at Home, Peace Abroad

Daniel Shea
Board of Directors
Veterans For Peace
shea at veteransforpeace.org
djshea at hotmail.com

PS: If you are so inclined,please read VFP's National Statement below.

Join Veterans For Peace in celebrating Armistice Day on November 11th.

One hundred years ago the world celebrated peace as a universal principal.

The first World War had just ended and nations mourning their dead 
collectively called for an end to all wars.

Armistice Day was born and was designated as ?a day to be dedicated to the 
cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated."

After World War II, the U.S. Congress decided to rebrand November 11 as 
Veterans Day. Honoring the warrior quickly morphed into honoring the 
military and glorifying war. Armistice Day was flipped from a day for 
peace into a day for displays of militarism.

Veterans For Peace has taken the lead in lifting up the original intention 
of November 11th as a day for peace. As veterans we know that a day that 
celebrates peace, not war, is the best way to honor the sacrifices of 
veterans.

We want generations after us to never know the destruction war has wrought 
on people and the earth.

Veterans For Peace is calling on everyone to stand up for peace this 
Armistice Day.

More than ever, the world faces a critical moment. Tensions are heightened 
around the world and the U.S. is engaged militarily in multiple countries, 
without an end in sight.

Here at home we have seen the increasing militarization of our police 
forces and brutal crackdowns on dissent and people's uprisings against 
state power. We must press our government to end reckless military 
interventions that endanger the entire world. We must build a culture of 
peace.

This Armistice Day, Veterans For Peace calls on the U.S. public to say no 
to more war and to demand justice and peace, at home and abroad. We know 
Peace is Possible and call for an end to all oppressive and violent 
policies, and for equality for all people