Memorial Day ceremony

Below are five pictures from this past Monday's ceremony at the Veterans Memorial at the Roger McGuire Green.

Photos were taken by Garland Walker.

Chapter members paint a vet's house

In conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, members of VFP 099 worked at painting a vet's house on 3/30. A big thanks to Ellie Halsey, Rusty Sivils, Charlie St Clair and Garland Walker. A few pictures are above: before and after painting pictures, Ellie at work, Garland and Rusty slapping it on.

Some more pictures of Ronald Harayda

Ron died in December and we had a memorial for him in January. I miss him, and have been missing him for awhile at vigils and such.... he was recently too ill to come to many of those activities.

Ronald Harayda -- Rest in PEACE

From War Crimes Times, Vol. III No. 2, Spring 2012:

ALARM

I've paid some of my dues & I'm doin' my time.

I've been busted for some victimless crime.

Corporate media only feeds you trivial crap

while Soma & toxins drip out of your tap.

Hope is the dope that leads you to dream.

Wake up! Take Action! Carpe Diem!

I've heard all about high crimes & their cost;

crime is the price we pay when compassion gets lost.

Nobody can feel your pain, that's for you alone.

How deep does good go once you've been bad to the bone?

Hope is a dope that keeps you serene.

Wake up! Take Action! Carpe Diem!

When we sow fear on both sides of our shore,

can we let ring our chimes of freedom anymore?

Go where we tell you, don't follow our ways,

& you'll soon discover who profits & who pays.

Hope is a rope that binds you to the machine.

Wake up! Take Action! Carpe Diem!

Can you hear your neighbors' call thru the rhetorical fog

as they are dragged off to some shadowy gulag?

Your children are bedazzled, befuddled & beguiled;

when you dare to ask why you're treated like a child.

Hope is the smokescreen for corporate schemes

Wake up! Take Action! Carpe Diem!

Don't believe all those stories you read & hear,

else you'll find yourself under the shadow of fear.

Hope is the dope that leads you to dream.

Wake up! Take Action! Carpe Diem!

Hope is the dope that keeps you in a dream.

Wake up! Take Action! Carpe Diem!

                                            —Ronald Harayda

—Ronald Harayda

USAF medic '65 to '69

producer of  VFP-TV & Radio

and past president of VFP Chapter 099

Vets campground photos by Jim Brown

Photos from the Bell Tower by Jim Brown

Photos of Vets for Peace convention by Susan Oehler