Chapter 099 Weekly Vigil at Pack Square

Stand with VFP and other peacemongers at Pack Square each Tuesday from 4:30 to 5:30pm.

Armistice Day

As we observe the holiday on November 11 and any related events, remember

the original intent--to honor the cease fire that occurred on the 11th

hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. In 2008, VFP passed a resolution

(below) that reminds us: "the substitution of the word "Armistice" to

"Veterans" changes the focus from peace to war by celebrating and honoring

warriors and war."

Also see the article below from 11/10/2008.

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Armistice Day/Veterans Day (Approved at the 2008 VFP national convention )

Whereas bells worldwide were rung on November 11, 1918 to celebrate and

recognize the ending of WWI, "The war to end all wars" and

Whereas to commemorate that peaceful pledge, bells were rung November 11

for over 35 years, and

Whereas, legislation making November 11 a holiday passed in 1938, " Shall

be a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter

celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." and

Whereas the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service

organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word

"Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the

approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November

11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars, and

Whereas the substitution of the word "Armistice" to "Veterans" changes the

focus from peace to war by celebrating and honoring warriors and war, and

Whereas that November date symbolized the nation's desire to hold to a

peaceful future and away from war, and

Whereas, too often rhetoric and patriotic symbols are used instead of

genuine compensation for the extraordinary sacrifices and services of

military personnel, and

Whereas 90% of victims of wars are now civilians and by honoring only

veterans, the public is distracted from the awful price paid by those

other than military members, and

Whereas Chapter #27 has for over 17 years promoted the ringing of a bell

eleven times at its ceremonies on November 11 and at other solemn

occasions such as funerals to remind the public of that Armistice Day

peace pledge, and

Whereas the ringing of bells is so much more fitting and peaceful than the

often practiced gun salutes and fighter plane flyovers.

Therefore Be It Resolved that Veterans For Peace, Inc. urges its

memberships to adopt the procedure of honoring peace by focusing on bell

ringing on Armistice Day, November 11 and other solemn occasions.

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Veteran's Day: Keeping Faith With The Original Intent of Armistice Day

WASHINGTON - November 10, 2008 - A veterans' organization ask the nation

to remember the original intent of Veterans Day.

The original Armistice Day ended World War I on November 11, 1918, but not

before nearly 30 million soldiers had been killed or wounded, and over

seven million taken prisoner.

Congress responded to a universal hope that this would never happen again

and passed a resolution calling for "...exercises designed to perpetuate

peace through good will and mutual understanding...inviting the people of

the United States to observe the day in schools and churches...with

appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples."

Congress later resolved November 11 was to be "...a day dedicated to the

cause of world peace."

Of the many veterans' organizations in the U.S., one exists specifically

to carry out the original purpose of Armistice Day, now celebrated as

Veterans' Day. In word as well as action, Veterans For Peace, a national

organization with 120 chapters, is dedicated to the cause of peace.

"Unfortunately Veterans Day has turned into a day to support war rather

than a day to reflect on the horrors of war and the need to work for

peace," said Veterans For peace Executive Director Michael McPhearson.

"Veterans For Peace has over 120 chapters around the country, many of whom

will be commemorating veterans day by marching in traditional parades,

conducting solemn ceremonies and vigils to give an alternative view about

war and the meaning of the day," McPhearson went on to say.

"Our statement of purpose is clear and direct when it says we intend to

'abolish war as an instrument of national policy.' We want this

generation of veterans to be the last," said VFP president Elliott Adams.

The former Army paratrooper and Viet Nam veteran added, "We not only speak

out for peace, our organization works towards it every single day. We will

continue to do so and in fact increase our efforts as VFP seeks to raise

awareness of the human and monetary cost of war in the face of the global

economic crisis."

Please visit www.veteransforpeace.org to learn more about VFP Veterans Day

activities.

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Veterans For Peace was founded in 1985 and includes veterans of all eras

and wars from the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), World War II, the Korean,

Vietnam, Gulf and current Iraq wars as well as other conflicts cold or

hot. It has participated in every major demonstration against the war in

Iraq. Our collective experience tells us wars are easy to start and hard

to stop and that those hurt are often the innocent. VFP is represented at

the UN as an official Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).

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