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aUGUST 14, 2008
PRESENTE AL ZAPPALA
"
We tell you all with great and humble sadness that Al Zappala passed away this morning. He died peacefully and without pain in Joan's arms.
We thank each and every one of you for the visits, calls, prayers and thoughts through this difficult time. Al was genuinely surprised by the outpouring of support he received. May you all take him with you through your journeys.
We hope you can find joy in his life and the experiences you shared with him. He inspired us, taught us, listened to us, loved us. Peace be with you,
The Zappala and Kosloff family"
Al's son, Sherwood Baker, was killed while serving in Baghdad April 24, 2004. Since then, Al has dedicated his life to speaking out against an illegal war and occupation. He was a Gold Star member of Military Families Speak Out and a veteran member of Veterans For Peace.
To the Captain I Saw at Cracker Barrel
I saw you at Cracker Barrel the other morning, sir. I sat and ate my Old Timer’s Breakfast and laughed with my wife and forgot about my brothers and sisters living every moment of thirteen months in their own hot hell. I would have missed you if I hadn’t looked up when I did from my hash browns and turkey sausage, would have missed that moment I’ll never forget. I saw your boots first, sir and the brown and tan of your desert camouflage and then your face – a face I knew like my mothers, like my own. You scanned everyone as you walked through the restaurant toward your table, scanned their faces, evaluated their threat potential and moved on to the next. Your eyes held mine for only an instant, one of the longest moments of my life, and moved on to the kids at the table behind mine, content that I posed you and your troops not present no danger that morning. You sat alone then, talking on a cell phone to a buddy, or a woman who wouldn’t know you any more, and I struggled to maintain the peace and happiness I had with my wife only minutes before. That feeling was gone, though – those minutes had passed and I felt like I would never eat again. Welcome home, sir.
This article was originally published in the July 2008 VFP Newsletter.
55th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Day
In observance of the 55th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Day, VFP-Korea Peace Campaign sponsored a Peace Vigil for a peace treaty in Korea, at the UN on July 27, the day when the Armistice Agreement was signed in 1953.
Despite the bad weather, four VFP members maintained one hour peace vigil across the entrance to the UN. We displayed slogans like "End the Korean War," "From Armistice to Peace Treaty," etc.
We were particularly honored with the presence of
three veterans of the Korean War (Tom Kennedy, Peter Bronson,
and Bill Gilson).
It is hoped that this kind of vigil will continue as an annual event throughout the U.S.
until the Armistice Agreement is replaced with a peace treaty.
The "Forgotten War" is unfortunately not over yet.
VFP Board President Speaks at Impeachment Hearing
Last Friday, Veterans For Peace Board President, Elliott Adams, testified at the Judiciary Committee Hearing on Presidential Misconduct. The hearing heard testimony from Rep. Dennis Kucinich regarding his impeachment resolution. > read Elliott's statement
C-Span Video of Hearing [ Panel 1 | Panel 2 ]
MEDIA
Ex-SLC mayor to Congress: Impeach Bush
Kucinich Gets Hearing - Just Don't Call It an Impeachment Hearing
Bush critics get an unimpeachable forum
Big Crowd Gathers For House Judiciary Hearing On Bush "impeachment"
Canadian Consulate Vigils Huge Success!
Well, we had a great day overall! Thanks to the united efforts of many folks, we succeeded in mounting actions at the Canadian Embassy and Consulates in 14 U.S. cities! The reports from the various cities are still trickling in. There were reportedly 60 people at the vigil in New York, 50 in San Francisco, "50 some" in Chicago, and respectable showings elsewhere. There was significant media coverage of these vigils in both the U.S. and Canada. Veterans For Peace
president Elliott Adams was interviewed on Canadian Broadcasting Corp. television this morning and CBC covered the vigil in Washington too. Associated Press showed up at several rallies. We had local TV and radio coverage here in Seattle, along with AP and Free Speech Radio News. And the beat goes on.
Take Action Against Military Recruitment at Milwaukee's Summerfest
The military has a clear and dangerous presence at Milwaukee's Summerfest (June 26 - July 6, 2008). One exhibit is especially offensive: kids as young as 13 years old can aim automatic weapons from atop a humvee at a large screen to virtually kill people.
UPDATE: Summerfest office was so flooded with calls objecting to the recruiters tactics that they they made them raise the minimum age to 18 and stop giving out the game DVD's. We will continue to hound them to shut this completly down, but it was gratifying to get some immediate results. Thank you to everyone who made phone calls!
We do not want to desensitize our youth to the violence of "war," nor cultivate the twisted reality that our aggression in the Middle East is "war," when the truth is that the overwhelmingly casualties are innocent civilians. The setting for this bloodshed is a residential area with "targets" of uncertain identity moving through the streets. This aggrandizement of violence and glorification of our illegal invasions abroad is xenophobic, profane, and undermines the basic values we strive to live by in America.
This Army atrocity is located next to a rock stage as it targets youth; while they ask for an ID to prove age 13 or older, they willingly accept a child's word and collect their name, age, address, etc.; no doubt for future recruitment.
Summerfest representative Dan Minahan barks that the festival is a place to "forget about the war" where one can "enjoy real high entertainment value." War is NOT a game, and this exhibit needs to be shut down immediately.
Please call the Summerfest administrative office and demand that it be shut down: 414-273-2680. (When I called, the person filled out a form with my concerns; I left my name & ZIP code; I did not give my phone #.)
Call to Action - Help Needed for PFC James Burmeister
James Burmeister was serving in Baghdad, Iraq when his humvee was caught in an IED explosion and he was hit in the face with shrapnel. Suffering from the physical wounds, as well as emotional ones resulting from his injury and working with the military "bait and kill" teams, James went to Canada and was AWOL until earlier this year when he decided to turn himself in.
Last week the Army decided to charge PCF James Burmeister with desertion. James will face a Special Court-Martial, a bad conduct discharge (which would prohibit him from having access to any medical benefits or otherwise for the rest of his life), and up to 12 months of prison. The date of James' court martial is expected to be set next week.
At this point, his fate is undecided. Because of his PTSD, James and his family are requesting that the Army gives him an "Other Than Honorable Discharge". YOU CAN HELP!
1. Please contact the Post Commander General Campbell to request a speedy discharge for James. Contact the Fort Knox Public Affairs Office at 502-624-7451 or knox.pao@conus.army.mil and demand better treatment for our soldiers. Ask that they give PFC James Burmeister Other Than Honorable Discharge.
2. If you are interested in helping, please contact Anita Dennis at 859-948-4274, anitadennis@msn.com.
3. Write James and give him words of support and encouragement.
US ARMY
PFC James Burmeister
HHC - Building 298, Gold Vault Road
Fort Knox, Kentucky
40121, USA
Chapter 11 Lowers Flag on Flag Day
As stated in the attached letter to the Santa Cruz City Council, members of the Corrie-Mizo Chapter of the Veterans For Peace lowered the US Flag at the Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building to half staff, on Flag Day, June 14, 2008. The attached letter was read to the City Council by VFP member Duncan Murphy.
We mourn the loss of life that has resulted from the US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. We will continue to fly the flag at half staff while US policies result in needless and unjustified deaths in these countries.
We understand that the US Flag Code specifies that only the President or the Governors may authorize the flying of the flag at half staff. However, since these officials have neglected to acknowledge the waste of human life, we have taken matters into our own hands, to present a reminder to the community of the true cost of these invasions.
Peace,
Daniel Young
VFP Chapter 11
Santa Cruz, CA
VFP Goes to Washington D.C. and Scores One for Impeachment!
Washington, D.C. -- Yesterday, a 17-member delegation of Veterans For Peace presented some 23,000 petitions to Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), demanding the impeachment of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. Conyers, chair of the House Committee on the Judiciary, is the Member of Congress with the authority to call for impeachment hearings.
Also Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to send the 35 Articles of Impeachment, submitted Monday evening by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) to the Judiciary Committee for consideration and hearings.
THE IMPORTANT THING NOW is to turn up the heat on Congress to get them to act! Start with the Judiciary Committee if your Rep. is on it and whether or not they're on that committee, give them a call!
View video of press conference
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