Boston VFP Memorial Day doings

Hello friends,

Please pass this information on to everyone you think would be interested. We anticipate that there will be a sizable contingent of Iraqi refugees joining us for the event. If you are interested in participating in a Memorial Day event unlike any other in Massachusetts please join us.

Have a great day,
Pat Scanlon
Coordinator, Veterans for Peace, Chapter 9, Smedley Butler Brigade

Memorial Day for Peace
Christopher Columbus (Waterfront) Park
Atlantic Ave. & Richmond St. (Near the Aquarium)
Monday, May 31, 2010 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Please join Veterans For Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Gold Star Families for Peace and the American Friends Service Committee for a ceremony for Peace on Memorial Day.

Speakers to include:

Memorial to Howard Zinn, proud member of VFP

Joseph Gerson – American Friends Service Committee

Severyn Bruyn – World War II, Army Veteran (1945 – 1947)

Bill Ashton, VFP, Smedley Butler Brigade, Navy Corpsman (1981-1986)

Nancy Lessin and Charlie Richardson – Military Families Speak Out

Ross Caputi – Marine veteran of the Iraq War (2003 – 2006)
President of Boston University Anti-War Coalition

Kevin & Joyce Lucey, parents of Corporal Jeffrey Lucey, U.S. M.C.

Melida & Carlos Arredondo, Gold Star Families for Peace, parents of Marine Lance Corporal Alex Arredondo U.S,M.C.

Farouk Al-Saad – Iraqi Refugee – Effects of war on my people, country & culture
Rafal Al-Saad – Daughter – Winner, NSCC Peace Poetry Contest

The Memorial Day for Peace will include Eyes Wide Open which consists of pairs of boots laid out on the lawn for each U.S. soldier from Massachusetts who has died in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

We will recite the names of those fallen who passed away in support of what we believe to be illegal and illicit wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Names of some Iraq and Afghanistan civilians killed in the conflicts will also be read. We bereave deeply all those who should not have lost their lives in war, sadly, perpetrated by misguided leaders, leading a misinformed public and an over-extended military into two immoral wars we greatly oppose.
“War is a Racket”! –Smedley D. Butler, MajGen U.S.M.C.

Directions from the Aquarium T stop:
Follow the signs in the station for Waterfront and Aquarium.
As you exit the T station, turn right on Atlantic Ave. and turn right again after passing the Long Wharf Marriott. Enter Christopher Columbus Park. The event will be taking place along the harbor, look for the Veterans for Peace white flags.